Dubai Healthy

Lack of Sunlight and Exercise increase Women's Risk of Osteoporosis

2011-10-20T09:07:00.001+04:00

Over 40% of women in the UAE are at risk of not getting enough sunlight to source essential levels of Vitamin D and nearly 20% of this group are never exposed to the sun at all, according to results of an independent survey released today by Anlene. The “Lifestyle for Lifelong Bones” research which canvassed both Emirati nationals and foreign residents also revealed that 60% of women take only one hour of exercise or less a week, with over half of that group (31%) not taking any exercise at all.

Speaking of the results that were announced today in advance of World Osteoporosis Day, Joanne Todd, Fonterra Brands Nutritionist and Senior Health Platform Manager said: “Osteoporosis, a disease that causes bones to breakdown and increases fracture risk, is a major health risk in the UAE. Sufficient intake of Vitamin D is vital to absorb calcium and promote bone health. In fact, it’s so important that our bodies have the ability to create vitamin D when our skin (e.g. hands and face) is exposed to enough sunlight. There is no absolute guideline on an individual’s daily sun exposure due to a range of factors such as skin type, geographic location, gender and diet but for women to receive so little natural sun exposure or none at all is concerning. The results of the survey show that due to women’s extreme lack of sunlight exposure in the UAE, vitamin D deficiency could reach alarming levels with serious consequences for long-term mobility if it isn’t received from alternative sources such as food rich in Vitamin D.”

The main risk factors contributing to low vitamin D levels include older age, being of female gender, presence in higher geographical latitudes, less sunlight exposure, darker skin pigmentation, dietary habits, and the absence of vitamin D fortification in common foods. Urbanization, where people tend to live and work indoors, as well as cultural practices that tend towards sun avoidance and the wearing of traditional clothing that covers the skin, are also factors. Other lifestyle practices such as high consumption of caffeinated drinks such as tea, coffee and carbonated drinks, as well as tobacco, which are all very common in the UAE, can also adversely impact on bone health.

The severity of the problem in Middle East exists from the combination of several of these risk factors. A 2009 Report from the International Osteoporosis Foundation and the Committee of Scientific Advisors’ Nutrition Working Group recommended that national Vitamin D prevention plans should include regular, safe, limited exposure to sunlight and improved dietary intake of Vitamin D, while also considering fortified foods.

Of the ethnic groups surveyed, Arabs, both local and foreign, received the least sunlight with more than half receiving less than ten minutes of sunlight exposure a day or no sunlight exposure at all. Geographically, lack of sunlight exposure was consistent across most locations in the Emirates, except in Sharjah where almost one third of women claim not to have any daily exposure to sunlight.

Ms Todd added that the risk to bone health is heightened by the profound lack of exercise that women are taking in the UAE, which is vital for preventing bone loss and helping people to stay healthy and active throughout adulthood: “Today’s modern lifestyles are putting women under increasing pressure to juggle priorities and sometimes this is at the expense of their diet and general wellbeing. It’s so important that women make the time to exercise and weight-bearing activities such as walking, running, yoga or lifting light weights are the best way to keep bones strong while benefitting overall health and wellbeing.”

Joanne continued: “That’s why it is extremely concerning that women in the UAE are not taking nearly enough exercise and nearly one third take none at all. Not only does this put their bones at significant risk of weakening which could jeopardise future mobility, it also has many wider implications for women’s overall health and well-being.”

In terms of ethnic breakdown, 44% of Arabs claimed not to do any exercise and 26% do less than an hour a week. Around one third of Asians said that they did minimal exercise and one quarter does none at all.

The highlights also showed that 61% were either not concerned or only fairly concerned about osteoporosis. 55% of all respondents would only start to think about caring for their bones from the age of 30 onwards.

Commenting on this observation Joanne said: “Osteoporosis poses a real threat to the health of women in the UAE and more needs to be done to help women realise this. Also, bone mass, which keeps bones strong, is built throughout life and peaks at age 30. If women are only starting to think about looking after their bones from this age they will have lost the best opportunity to protect themselves against developing osteopenia (thinning bones) or osteoporosis later in life.

“This debilitating disease doesn’t have to be inevitable if more people are aware of its existence and how this can be combated through simple measures such as having a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D combined with regular exercise throughout life, especially from early adulthood onwards.”

Your browser may not support display of this image.

Kamal Gupta, Managing Director, Fonterra Brands Middle East and Africa added: “Fonterra has had a long-standing interest in bone health and has undertaken extensive research into the causes and prevention of osteoporosis. Today’s survey results demonstrate that understanding people’s behaviours and perceptions around osteoporosis and healthy living are really critical for building a complete picture of bone health. Through getting to know more about lifestyle habits, we can help people to make adjustments that fit easily into daily routines to stay healthy, mobile and enjoy life to the fullest.”

Jessica Robertson, a British triathlete based in Dubai and a member of the Anlene Ambassador Board, understands how important a healthy lifestyle is. “Being a young athlete means exercise is of course part of my daily routine, but all women should be incorporating weekly routines into their lifestyles. For the 30% of women surveyed admitting to not taking any exercise at all, I would strongly encourage them to look at social activities such as walking. It is a great way to keep bones healthy, families can do this together and all you need is pair of comfortable shoes! Or why not try yoga with friends as this is another recommended form of exercise to keep bones strong.”

To date, Fonterra has spent over US$50 million on bone health research to increase its understanding of osteoporosis and the role of dairy in its prevention. This includes 18 clinical trials to evaluate how dairy best supports bone health. Fonterra is the IOF’s Regional Nutrition Partner in the Middle East. The partnership is dedicated to raising awareness and improving bone health.

As part of this, Anlene, a nutrient-rich adult milk and range of dairy products was developed by Fonterra almost 20 years ago to promote good bone health. The range was introduced to the UAE in June 2007. It includes a formulation of calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K, zinc and magnesium which combine to assist the effective absorption of bone nutrients and improve bone quality.

Managing Diabetes during Ramadan

2011-07-29T19:22:00.000+04:00

The National Health Insurance Company- Daman today announced plans to organize an educational seminar titled “Managing Diabetes during Ramadan” on July 16 ahead of the holy month to support patients with diabetes with expert advice on managing their health and dietary requirements during fasting.

Seminar attendants will be offered a unique opportunity to learn more about managing diabetes and planning a suitable dietary routine during the course of Ramadan. The move comes as part of Daman’s unique Disease Management Program (DMP) designed to improve the quality of life for those suffering from chronic diseases. The Program, run by the Health Support Department at Daman, provides health coaches to work closely with members to manage their conditions.

Daman’s Health Support Manager, Dr. Alfons Grabosch, commented: “The seminar forms part of our ongoing dedication to support those who suffer from chronic diseases within our community. Raising awareness of the importance of nutrition amongst diabetics ahead of Ramadan, where many intend to alter their dietary habits, will help improve their fasting experience and reduce the risk of medical complications resulting from poor nutrition.”

The seminar, conducted by a professional team from the company’s Disease Management Program, will include an introductory session focusing on Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity, a session about healthy nutrition and healthy lifestyles for diabetics during Ramadan, and a workshop utilizing the powerful Diabetes Conversation Map, a renowned diabetes education tool developed by Healthy Interactions and the International Diabetes Federation.

A healthy dinner will also be offered at the end of the seminar explaining the right portions and types of food recommended through the Healthy Plate concept.

The seminar will be conducted in Arabic and is free of charge to the public. The seminar will be held at the Intercontinental Hotel in the Liwa Majlis Ballroom in Abu Dhabi from 4pm until 8pm. Participants will be given the chance to win a trip for Umrah during Ramadan.

Seating at the seminar is limited, and it is therefore advised to register online by visiting Daman’s website at www.damanhealth.ae or contacting Daman’s events team by phone at +971 2 6145503 or email at disease.management@damanhealth.ae.

Healthy Skin during Ramadan Fasting with Silkor

2011-07-29T19:11:00.001+04:00

Silkor experts advise hydrating facials for skin during the holy month, as well as dietary recommendations
Ramadan special offer launched, with opportunity to win a 5-star Hotel stay and dinner at Le Royal Meridién, Abu Dhabi .

Silkor, the region’s premier laser hair removal center, has announced an exciting Ramadan promotion based on increased demand for quality skincare treatments during the Holy Month. The center, which offers a series of skincare and slimming treatments in addition to the laser hair removal services that remain its core business, has launched ‘Essentials of Life’; a course of two facials, one hydrating and one whitening, available as a promotional package. Customers purchasing the package will receive another two identical treatments free of charge, and will automatically enter a draw to win a one night stay at Le Royal Meridién in Abu Dhabi complete with a dinner for two at the hotel’s Italian restaurant, Amalfi.

Reporting an increase in consultations for skin issues during Ramadan, Silkor experts say that the sudden change in dietary habits combined with the long period of daily fasting, can have a detrimental effect on the skin, and a proper skincare regime is essential to avoid breakouts, dry patches and dull-looking skin –all symptoms of the dehydration associated with fasting.

In addition to the recommended facials, the Silkor team advises individuals concerned about skincare during the Holy Month to pay particular consideration to their daily basic skincare regime, as even ‘normal’ skin is likely to need more attention whilst fasting. Meticulous cleansing, toning, exfoliating and moisturizing are essential to remove dead skin caused by the lack of water intake, restore skin’s natural mineral levels, and balance the skin’s oil production and natural vitamin E.

Amal Rashkidi, Silkor Corporate Medical Director, also stresses the importance of dietary factors to compliment a structured skincare regime, saying, “The hours of fasting dehydrate the skin so it’s essential to make sure that you rehydrate as well as eat after iftar. We recommend that between iftar and suhoor our clients drink at least eight glasses of water - approximately 2 liters, in addition to any other fluids, as our bodies only absorb 50 to 60 per cent of fruit juice, and just 20 to 30 percent of sodas.

There are also some great power-foods that can repair dehydrated skin – cashews or almonds are packed with healthy fibers, fatty acids and proteins which will maintain the post-facial glow. Likewise, fruits such as strawberries and blueberries are high in anti-oxidants, which are known for their positive effect on healthy skin, and dates are a great source of anti-oxidants, Vitamin A, iron, potassium, calcium, and magnesium that all promote optimum skin health. Apricots (the main ingredient of Qamar El Din) aid in the digestion process, meaning that the body’s ability to make use of these vitamins and minerals is increased”.

In addition to the ‘Essentials of Life’ Ramadan facials, Silkor are also offering a special summer promotion, where customers receive a 1000 AED Silkor voucher with any 10000 AED laser hair removal package purchased. Silkor branches are open from 9am until 9pm in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain and Ras Al Khaimah (except Fridays). For more information or to book an appointment for a free consultation visit www.silkor.com or call 02 681 6070 (Abu Dhabi), 04 348 0500 (Dubai), 03 763 0123 (Al Ain), 050 509 4958 (Ras Al Khaimah).

SEHA launches health awareness campaigns for Ramadan in UAE

2011-07-29T19:06:00.000+04:00

SEHA, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, has announced the launch of two awareness campaigns for the Holy month of Ramadan. The campaigns’ goals are to reach out to the general public about the importance of monitoring health and regulating medicine intake during the Holy month and to ensure optimal lifestyle benefits during fasting.

The first campaign, ‘Taking Your Medicine during Ramadan’, focuses on balancing your desire to fast with your medical needs during Ramadan. The campaign highlights four areas of interest, offering fasting tips for diabetic patients, individuals with heart disease, pregnant women, and children.

“Ramadan can offer a number of health benefits, especially when people monitor their dietary intake and ensure the maintenance of any medication regimens they are on,” said Mr. Khalifa Al Ketbi, Deputy Chief of Operations Division at SEHA. “There are a number of precautions that can be taken to avoid common symptoms and issues, and SEHA is proactively reaching out to ensure that everyone can observe Ramadan in the healthiest way possible. The campaigns launched will reach the majority of Abu Dhabi people, and with the cooperation of SEHA’s hospitals, will ensure a heightened interaction with the patients to deliver the main messages of those campaigns.”

The second campaign, ‘A Healthy Ramadan’, revolves around a charismatic young cartoon character known as ‘Saeed’. Saeed, who dispenses health tips to friends and family and encourages a healthy lifestyle during Ramadan, is set to appear and converse with the public through a number of channels, including print, radio and television spots.

Salama Al Mazrouei, Senior Marketing Specialist said, “Healthy lifestyles are important for a better quality of life, and we are hoping that ‘Saeed’ will be able to communicate with a diversity of audiences in a way that appeals to them. The characteristics of ‘Saeed’ and the healthy lifestyle that he promotes will be key in the audiences’ reaction and interaction with the messages that he will deliver.”

In addition, all the hospitals under the SEHA ambit have revealed their own awareness activities lined up during the Holy Month of Ramadan. These include community outreach programmes and health hotlines where people can find advice on dosage and medicine scheduling to facilitate fasting. The hospitals will also focus on social activities, meals distribution and marketing several tips and advices through an array of communication tactics.

“SEHA is committed to offering world class healthcare and ensuring that everyone can enjoy the spirit of Ramadan in the best health possible. We’re reaching out to the community to ensure that healthcare needs are met during this holy and spiritual month, and we wish everyone a happy – and healthy- Ramadan,” Al Mazrouei concluded.

Etisalat showcases the innovative mHealth application at GITEX 2010

2010-10-18T17:04:00.000+04:00

In line with its vision of leveraging mobile technology to enhance quality of healthcare, Etisalat unveiled an innovative Mobile Health (mHealth) application at GITEX 2010. The application will be the first such interactive application to be showcased in the UAE that will harness mobile technology for providing vital, relevant and customized information on healthcare.

Users of this application will be able to seek medical information, pertaining to a wide variety of topics on Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Children’s health and Psychological Health, using their mobiles. Users will also be able to seek active medical advice from consultants on their chosen topics such as Obesity and Diet, Exercise and Sports, Diabetes etc. regularly via SMS.

Based on the Etisalat’s ‘Value SMS’ platform, mHealth will enable users to send their relevant health related information like their weight and age, to a 4 digit code. Based on the information provided, users will receive personalized information and updates on their Body Mass Index, Daily Calorie requirement and Daily Water requirement. Users will also be able to access quick information and consultation, and receive active SMS alerts on the health topics of their choice.

Commenting on this application, Abdulla Hashim, Senior Vice President, Business Solutions at Etisalat said, “In today’s fast paced life, health is the most neglected aspect. I believe it is critical for telecom leaders to harness the benefits that mobile technology can bring to healthcare, in both sociological and economic terms. Mobile technology can promote quality healthcare by providing relevant information and timely advice. The m-health service, by Etisalat, will be an excellent example of our vision and the active role a telecom leader can play in improving the quality of healthcare through Real Time, Collaborative, Clinical Information sharing.’

‘The planned mhealth service is designed to complement the excellent healthcare that is being delivered in the UAE. With the high incidence of many chronic diseases, like Diabetes, widespread in the UAE, such an application will not only increase user awareness on such chronic ailments, but also encourage people to take regular health check-ups and make them medically aware. Etisalat’s m-Health service will also inspire other technology companies to play an active role in improving the health of our Nation’ added Mr. Hashim.

Etisalat’s mhealth application can be viewed at the Etisalat Gitex stand in Zabeel hall.

Mayo Clinic Finds Early Success with Laser that Destroys Tumors with Heat

2010-10-16T20:25:00.000+04:00

Physicians at Mayo Clinic’s Florida campus are among the first in the nation to use a technique known as MRI-guided laser ablation to heat up and destroy kidney and liver tumors. So far, five patients have been successfully treated — meaning no visible tumors remained after the procedure.

They join their colleagues at Mayo Clinic’s site in Rochester, Minn., who were the first to use laser ablation on patients with recurrent prostate tumors.

Although the treatment techniques are in the development stage, the physicians say the treatment is potentially beneficial against most tumors in the body -- either primary or metastatic -- as long as there are only a few in an organ and they are each less than 5 centimeters in size (about 2 inches in diameter). Patients also cannot have a pacemaker or certain metallic implants, since the procedure is done inside an MRI machine.

“Laser ablation offers us a way to precisely target and kill tumors without harming the rest of an organ. We believe there are a lot of potential uses of this technique -- which is quite exciting,” says Eric Walser, M.D., an interventional radiologist who has pioneered the technique at Mayo Clinic, Florida.

In the United States, laser ablation is primarily used to treat brain, spine and prostate tumors, but is cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for any soft tissue tumor. Only a few centers have adapted the technique to tumors outside of the brain.

Dr. Walser has been using laser ablation since June. He learned the technique in Italy, where its use is more common, and he adapted it for patients at Mayo Clinic, Florida, many of whom are on a liver transplant waiting list. The clinic is a large liver transplant center, and a number of patients with cirrhosis have small tumors in their liver. “We treated the tumors to keep them at bay because we could not use chemotherapy in these patients, who are quite ill and are waiting for a new liver,” he says. He also adapted it for use in treating kidney tumors.

The outpatient procedure is performed inside an MRI machine, which can precisely monitor temperature inside tumors. A special nonmetal needle is inserted directly into a tumor, and the laser is turned on to deliver light energy. Physicians can watch the temperature gradient as it rises, and they can see exactly in the organ where the heat is. When the tumor and a bit of tissue that surrounds it (which may harbor cancer cells) is heated to the point of destruction -- which can be clearly seen on monitors -- the laser is turned off. In larger tumors, several needles are inserted simultaneously.

Patients are given anesthesia because, during the 2.5-minute procedure they should not move, Dr. Walser says. Post-treatment side effects include some local pain and flulike symptoms as the body reacts to, and absorbs, the destroyed tissue, he says. These side effects usually subside in three days to one week.

Dr. Walser adds that laser ablation is a much more precise technology than similar methods that use probes, such as radiofrequency ablation, which also raises a tumor’s temperature, and cryotherapy, which freezes tumors.

David Woodrum, M.D., Ph.D., from Mayo Clinic, Rochester, has also reported success using the new technique.

At the March meeting of the Society of Interventional Radiology, Dr. Woodrum, presented results from the first known cases of using MRI-guided laser ablation to treat prostate tumors. He said then that the safe completion of four clinical cases using the technique to treat prostate cancer in patients who had failed surgery “demonstrates this technology’s potential.”

Dr. Woodrum has now treated seven patients, including a patient with melanoma whose cancer had spread to his liver.

“MRI-guided ablation may prove to be a promising new treatment for prostate cancer recurrences,” he says. “It tailors treatment modality (imaging) and duration to lesion size and location and provides a less invasive and minimally traumatic alternative for men.”

Mayo is the country’s leader in adapting the use of MRI-guided ablation for tumors outside of the brain, say the physicians, who have been collaborating on expanding use of the technology with Visualase Inc., of Houston, Texas. The company received FDA clearance in October 2009 for use of laser ablation. Neither Dr. Walser nor Dr. Woodrum has a financial arrangement with the company or a conflict of interest.

About Mayo Clinic

For more than 100 years, millions of people from all walks of life have found answers at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic is the first and largest integrated, not-for-profit group medical practice in the world. Our patients are cared for by teams of specialists drawn from among 3,700 physicians and scientists and 50,100 allied staff at Mayo Clinic’s campuses in Minnesota, Florida, and Arizona. To obtain the latest news releases from Mayo Clinic, go to www.mayoclinic.org/news. For information about research and education, visit www.mayo.edu. MayoClinic.com (www.mayoclinic.com) is available as a resource for your general health information.

Walk UAE returns to Yas Marina Circuit with support of Daman

2010-10-11T14:12:00.000+04:00

More than 10,000 expected to walk against diabetes

WALK UAE 2010

‘START WALKING. LIVE HEALTHILY’

In support of World Diabetes Day

Starts at 3pm on Friday November 26 2010

YAS Marina Circuit, Yas Island

Abu Dhabi, UAE

(For more information visit www.Diabetesuae.ae)

Al Rahba Hospital expands Women’s Health Program with new Digital Mammography unit

2010-09-29T11:03:00.000+04:00

Latest technology will allow for on-site imaging and advanced detection analysis for early discovery and treatment of breast cancer

Al Rahba Hospital has announced the expansion of its landmark Women’s Health Program with the launch of a new Digital Mammography unit specializing in the area of breast cancer detection. The new unit boasts the latest in digital imaging technology with all necessary mechanical and software features available on site, permitting fast image acquisition and archiving, secondary post-processing, and advanced computer analysis detection (CAD). The unit is also designed to be patient-friendly and in line with the cultural customs of the region, reducing as much as possible the inconveniences typically associated with breast examinations.

The foremost innovation of the unit is the addition of a Stenograph Essential system, which uses special types of low energy x-ray technology to scan patients for breast cancer. The x-rays do not go through other tissues as easily as those used for more routine x-ray procedures, improving the contrast of the image for cancer detection. The digital system also exposes the patient to much lower doses of radiation compared to devices used just a few years ago.

“Mammogram screenings greatly improve a woman’s chance for successful treatment,” says Dr. Nellie Boma, M.D., M.P.H, and Chief Medical Officer of Al Rahba Hospital. “Early detection tests for breast cancer save many thousands of lives each year, and many more lives could be saved if more women and their healthcare providers took advantage of these tests.”

In UAE, breast cancer is the number one cause of cancer in women among both nationals & expats. According to Dr. Boma, women age 40 and older should have a mammogram every year and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health. Women in their 20s and 30s should also have a clinical breast exam (CBE) as part of their regular health examinations, preferably every three years.

Al Rahba Hospital’s Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Program was first established in January 2009 with an objective to identify and reduce the number of female cases of breast cancer, cervical cancer and osteoporosis within the UAE. A robust approach to disease prevention through patient screening and public outreach programs are a few of WHI’s primary tools to encourage healthy lifestyle management.

Al Rahba Hospital, managed by Johns Hopkins International and part of the SEHA HealthSystem and is owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA), which is responsible for the curative activities of all the public hospitals and clinics in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, has advanced rigorous guidelines in the development of the Digital Mammography unit to ensure that all equipment is both state-of-the-art and certified by international regulators.

Biomarkers in Breast Cancer 2010

2010-09-26T20:02:00.003+04:00

A new report by Research and Markets provides a comprehensive and up-to-date review of current and recently discovered breast cancer biomarkers. Today, biomarkers recommended to guide the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, are limited in number. In their most recent (2007) guidelines, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) supported the case for just nine markers, based on studies carried out between 1999 and 2006.

However, recent years have seen the discovery and clinical study of significant numbers of new biomarkers and additional clinical data are now available on earlier markers not yet in common use. Collectively, these biomarkers are providing valuable insights, diagnostically and therapeutically, in key areas of breast cancer. These include diagnosis, metastasis and spread, therapy direction, response to therapy, prognosis, predisposition, drug discovery and clinical research.

This report presents the studies and a utility-based classification of more than 200 breast cancer markers, reported in studies between Jan 2003 and May 2010. Going forward, many of these will very likely find valuable application in the clinic, in diagnostics, therapeutics, clinical research and drug discovery. This report also includes (at no additional cost) a six-monthly update, allowing readers to stay current with new findings over the coming year.

Over the last decade, research has generated a wealth of biological data that characterise the changes that occur in breast cancer. These findings have advanced the understanding of this disease, and allowed the development of more discriminating diagnostic methods and treatments. Cancer embraces multiple changes at the genetic, phenotypic, cellular and histological level and nowhere are these changes more evident than in the field of cancer biomarkers, which now embraces many thousands of studies: cells, animals and human. This report presents an up-to-date review of breast cancer biomarkers, with particular focus on the research of candidate molecules in controlled clinical studies.

Biomarkers identified in this report include: proteins, peptides, metabolites, genes and mutations, epigenetic species and other molecules. In particular, the report identifies molecules that offer minimally invasive techniques. As part of this report, biomarkers are classified by their potential utility. These areas include: diagnosis and staging (e.g. early detection); metastasis (e.g. to lymph nodes, bone); therapy directing (e.g. single and multiple drugs); response to therapy (e.g. favourable, resistance); prognosis (e.g. of relapse ); potential drug targets and diagnostic opportunities (e.g. novel proteins up-regulated in breast cancer tissues or elevated in the circulation); biomarker source (e.g. blood, tissue , urine); type (e.g. protein, gene); and function (e.g. of gene or protein).

This report presents findings on more than 200 proposed breast cancer biomarkers in a review that includes studies over the last eight years, through to May 2010. The report is presented in PDF format and provides the reader with an easy-to-read layout. Biomarkers are discussed and presented by their potential utility in key breast cancer areas, including diagnosis, metastasis, response to therapy, prognosis and disease predisposition. Figures and tables from this report are also provided in PDF slide format.

The study of biomarkers is one of the most promising and dynamic areas of cancer research today, as scientists seek to extend their understanding of the disease at the biological level. These advances are giving rise to more discriminating diagnostic tools and therapies, as well as a providing a deeper understanding of genetic and phenotypic differences at the patient level, as medicine moves ever closer to more personalised therapies. While these developments create important opportunities, this rapidly evolving field is also seeing uncertainty as interest shifts from past findings, to more promising recent advances. This report provides a comprehensive review on current opportunities in this field. In addition, through a six-monthly is provided (at no additional cost) with this report, helping readers to remain current with new advances and opportunities. Informed of future opportunities.

For more information please click on:

http://www.researchandmarkets.com/product/eb3c5b/biomarkers_in_breast_cancer_2010

Dealing with Diabetic Neuropathy

2010-09-22T12:26:00.001+04:00

Definition

Neuropathy is the medical term for nerve damage. Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of type 1 and type 2 diabetes; up to 26 percent of people with type 2 diabetes have evidence of nerve damage at the time their diabetes is diagnosed.

High blood sugar can injure nerve fibers throughout your body, but nerves in your legs and feet are damaged most often.

Depending on the affected nerves, symptoms of diabetic neuropathy can range from pain and numbness in your extremities to problems with your digestive system, urinary tract, blood vessels and heart. For some people, these symptoms are mild; for others, diabetic neuropathy can be painful, disabling and even fatal.

Diabetic neuropathy is a very serious complication of diabetes. Yet you can often prevent diabetic neuropathy or slow its progress with tight blood sugar control and a healthy lifestyle.

Symptoms

There are four main types of diabetic neuropathy. You may have just one type or symptoms of several types. Most develop gradually, and you may not notice problems until considerable damage has occurred. For some people, symptoms of neuropathy develop before diabetes is ever diagnosed.

The signs and symptoms of diabetic neuropathy vary, depending on the type of neuropathy and which nerves are affected:

Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy is the most common form of diabetic neuropathy. It damages nerves in your feet, legs, arms and hands, but your legs and feet are affected most often.

The most common symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy include:

Some people initially have intensely painful feet while others have few or no symptoms.
Numbness, or reduced ability to feel pain or changes in temperature, especially in your toes or feet
Extreme sensitivity to the lightest touch — for some people, even the weight of a sheet can be agonizing
A tingling, burning or prickling sensation that starts in your toes or the balls of your feet and gradually spreads upward
Sharp, jabbing or electric shock-like pain that's worse at night and at rest and improve with activity, such as walking.
Loss of balance and coordination
Muscle weakness and difficulty walking

Diabetic neuropathy usually affects both sides of the body. Symptoms are usually noticed first in the toes. If the disease progresses, symptoms may gradually move up the legs; if the mid-calves are affected, symptoms may develop in the hands. Over time, the ability to sense pain may be lost, which greatly increases the risk of injury.

Autonomic Neuropathy

The autonomic nervous system controls your heart, bladder, lungs, stomach, intestines, sex organs and eyes. Diabetes can affect the nerves in any of these areas, causing

Bladder problems, including frequent urinary tract infections or urinary incontinence
Digestive problems, such as bloating, belching and abdominal pain
Constipation, uncontrolled diarrhea or a combination of the two
Slow stomach emptying (gastroparesis), leading to nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite
Erectile dysfunction, which affects more than half the men with diabetes who are age 60 or older
Vaginal dryness and other sexual difficulties in women
Increased or decreased sweating
Inability of your body to adjust blood pressure and heart rate, leading to sharp drops in blood pressure after sitting or standing (orthostatic hypotension)
Problems regulating your body temperature
Changes in the way your eyes adjust from light to dark

Autonomic neuropathy is most likely to occur in people who have had poorly-controlled diabetes for many years.

Proximal Neuropathy

Also called femoral neuropathy or diabetic amyotrophy, proximal neuropathy is often marked by severe pain in your hip and thigh or buttocks, usually beginning on one side of your body. Eventually, your thigh muscles become weak and atrophied, making it difficult to rise from a sitting position. Many people have severe weight loss as well. Another form of this disorder causes severe pain in the trunk of your body. Proximal neuropathy mainly affects older adults and people with type 2 diabetes.

Focal Neuropathy

Focal neuropathy often comes on suddenly and usually involves a single nerve. It's most common in older adults. Although focal neuropathy can cause severe pain, it usually goes away on its own in a few weeks or months. Signs and symptoms include:

Difficulty focusing your eyes, double vision or aching behind one eye
Paralysis on one side of your face (Bell's palsy)
Pain in your shin or foot
Sometimes focal neuropathy occurs when a nerve is compressed. Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common type of compression neuropathy in people with diabetes. Signs and symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include:
- Numbness, swelling or tingling in your fingers when driving a car or holding a newspaper
- Pain radiating or extending from your wrist up your arm to your shoulder or down into your palm or fingers, especially after forceful or repetitive use
- A sense of weakness in your hands and a tendency to drop objects

Causes

A complex system of nerves runs through your body, connecting your brain to your muscles, skin and other organs. Through these nerves, your brain senses pain and temperature, controls your muscles, and performs automatic tasks such as digestion.

High Blood Sugar
Prolonged exposure to high blood sugar (glucose) can damage delicate nerve fibers, but exactly why this happens isn't completely clear. It's likely that a combination of factors plays a role, including the complex interaction between nerves and blood vessels. High blood glucose interferes with the ability of the nerves to transmit signals. It also weakens the walls of the small blood vessels (capillaries) that supply the nerves with oxygen and nutrients.
Protein glycation. This occurs when sugars in your body react with proteins, altering the nature of the proteins. Glycated proteins have been linked to aging and to complications of diabetes, including diabetic neuropathy.
Inflammation in the nerves caused by an autoimmune response. This occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks part of your body as if it were a foreign organism.
Genetic factors unrelated to diabetes that make some people more susceptible to nerve damage.
Smoking and alcohol abuse, which damage both nerves and blood vessels and significantly increase the risk of infections.

Risk Factors

Anyone who has diabetes can develop neuropathy, but these factors make you more susceptible to nerve damage:

Poor blood sugar control. This is the greatest risk factor for every complication of diabetes, including nerve damage. In people with type 1 diabetes, nerve damage can occur within 5 to 10 years of being diagnosed with diabetes, while in people with type 2 diabetes, neuropathy can be present even before the condition is detected. Keeping blood sugar consistently within your target range is the best way to protect the health of your nerves and blood vessels.
Length of time you have diabetes. Your risk of diabetic neuropathy increases the longer you have diabetes, especially if your blood sugar isn't well controlled. Autonomic neuropathy, which can affect digestion and bladder and sexual functioning, occurs mainly in people who have had poorly-controlled diabetes for two decades or more. And the highest rates of peripheral neuropathy occur in people who have had diabetes for at least 25 years.
Age. The older you are, the greater your chance of developing diabetic neuropathy.
Your sex. Men are more likely to have diabetic neuropathy than women are.
High cholesterol. A high level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) damages the small blood vessels that nourish your nerves.
Smoking. Smoking narrows and hardens your arteries, reducing blood flow to your legs and feet. This makes it more difficult for wounds to heal and damages the integrity of the peripheral nerves.

Other factors can further increase the risk of developing neuropathy, including

Coronary artery disease
Being overweight (a body mass index >25)
High blood pressure

When to Seek Medical Advice

Seek medical care if you notice

Unusual burning, tingling weakness or pain in your hands or feet
Dizziness
Markedly increased or decreased sweating
Changes in your digestion, urination or sexual function

These symptoms don't always indicate nerve damage, but they may signal other problems that require medical care. In either case, early diagnosis and treatment offer the best chance for controlling symptoms and preventing more-severe problems.

See your doctor immediately if you have a cut or sore on your foot that doesn't seem to be healing, is infected or is getting worse. Even minor sores that don't heal can turn into ulcers. In the most severe cases, untreated foot ulcers may become gangrenous — a condition in which the tissue dies — and require surgery or even amputation of your foot.

Diagnosis

Diabetic neuropathy is usually diagnosed based on your symptoms, your medical history and a physical exam.

During the exam, your doctor is likely to check your muscle strength and tone, tendon reflexes, sensitivity to light touch, pain, temperature, vibration, and directional movement in the toes (e.g., when the toe is moved up or down)

The American Diabetes Association recommends that all people with diabetes have a comprehensive foot exam — either by a doctor or a foot specialist (podiatrist) — at least once a year. In addition, your feet should be checked for sores, cracked skin, calluses, blisters, and bone and joint abnormalities at every office visit (usually every 3 to 4 months). If you already have diabetic neuropathy, you'll likely be referred to a podiatrist or other specialist for monitoring and treatment.

Filament Test

Sensitivity to touch is often tested using a soft nylon monofilament. If you're unable to feel the filament on your feet, it's a sign that you've lost sensation in those nerves.

Other Tests

More extensive testing, including nerve conduction studies, nerve biopsy, or imaging tests (e.g., x-ray or CT scan), is not usually needed to diagnose diabetic neuropathy.

In some cases, other tests may be needed, including:

Nerve conduction studies. This test measures how quickly the nerves in your arms and legs conduct electrical signals. It's often used to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome.
Electromyography (EMG) Often performed along with nerve conduction studies, electromyography measures the electrical discharges produced in your muscles.
Quantitative sensory testing. This noninvasive test is used to assess how your nerves respond to vibration and changes in temperature.

Complications

Diabetic neuropathy can cause a number of serious complications, including

Loss of a limb. Because nerve damage can cause a lack of feeling in your feet, cuts and sores may go unnoticed and eventually become severely infected or ulcerated — a condition in which the skin and soft tissues break down. The risk of infection is high because diabetes reduces blood flow to your feet. Infections that spread to the bone and cause tissue death (gangrene) may be impossible to treat and require amputation of a toe, foot or even the lower leg. More than half the nontraumatic lower limb amputations performed every year in the United States are due to diabetes.
Charcot joint. This occurs when a joint, usually in the foot, deteriorates because of nerve damage. Charcot joint is marked by a loss of sensation, as well as swelling, instability and sometimes deformity in the joint itself.
Urinary tract infections and urinary incontinence. Damage to the nerves that control your bladder can prevent it from emptying completely. This allows bacteria to grow in your bladder and kidneys, leading to urinary tract infections. Nerve damage can also affect your ability to sense when you need to urinate or to control the muscles that release urine.
Hypoglycemia unawareness. Normally, when your blood sugar drops too low (below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or below 3.0 millimoles per liter (mmol/L)) you develop symptoms such as shakiness, sweating and a fast heartbeat. These symptoms alert you to the problem so that you can take steps to raise your blood sugar quickly. Autonomic neuropathy can interfere with your ability to notice these symptoms. This is extremely serious — untreated hypoglycemia can be fatal.
Low blood pressure. Damage to the nerves that control circulation can affect your body's ability to adjust blood pressure. This can cause a sharp drop in pressure when you stand after sitting (orthostatic hypotension), which may lead to dizziness and fainting.
Digestive problems. Nerve damage to the digestive system can cause a range of problems, including severe constipation or diarrhea — or alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea — as well as nausea, vomiting, bloating and loss of appetite. One particularly serious digestive problem is gastroparesis, a condition in which the stomach empties too slowly or not at all. This can interfere with digestion, cause nausea and vomiting, and severely affect blood sugar levels and nutrition.
Sexual dysfunction Autonomic neuropathy often damages the nerves that affect the sex organs, leading to erectile dysfunction in men and problems with lubrication and arousal in women.
Increased or decreased sweating. When the sweat glands don't function normally, your body isn't able to regulate its temperature properly. A reduced or complete lack of perspiration (anhidrosis) can be life-threatening. More often, autonomic neuropathy causes excessive sweating, particularly at night.
Social isolation The pain, disability and embarrassment caused by nerve damage can rob people — particularly older adults — of their independence, leaving them increasingly isolated and depressed.

Treatment

Diabetic neuropathy has no known cure. Treatment for diabetic neuropathy focuses on:

Relieving pain
Managing complications
Restoring function

Slowing Disease Progression

One of the most important treatments for diabetic neuropathy is to control blood glucose levels. Consistently keeping blood sugar within a narrow target range can help delay the progression of peripheral neuropathy and may even cause an improvement in symptoms you already have. In some people, intense glucose control may reduce the overall risk of diabetic neuropathy by more than 60 percent.

For intense blood sugar control, your goals will likely be:

Blood sugar level before meals 90 to 130 mg/dL (5 to 7 mmol/L)
Blood sugar level two hours after meals less than 180 mg/dL (10 mmol/L)
Hemoglobin A1C (an indicator of your blood sugar control over the past 3 months) less than 7 percent. A1C is the amount of sugar that has bound to hemoglobin (the substance that carries oxygen inside red blood cells) in your blood. The higher your average blood sugar level for the past two or three months, the higher your A1C number will be. People who don't have diabetes have an A1C between 4 percent and 6 percent.

The American Diabetes Association recommends that people with diabetes have an A1C test at least twice a year if blood sugar levels are consistently in a healthy range. If your blood sugar isn't well controlled or you change medications, you should be tested more often.

If blood glucose levels are not adequately controlled with the current treatment regimen, a different regimen may be recommended. For people with type 1 diabetes, this may mean taking more frequent insulin injections or using an insulin pump. For people with type 2 diabetes, this may mean taking an additional oral medication or starting insulin injections.

Relieving Pain

Neuropathic pain can be difficult to control and can seriously affect a person's quality of life. Neuropathic pain is often worse at night, seriously disrupting sleep.

Fortunately, only a small percentage of people with diabetic neuropathy experience pain. Pain resolves without treatment in some people over a period of weeks to months, especially if the episode of pain developed after a sudden change in health (e.g., an episode of diabetic ketoacidosis, a significant weight loss, or a significant change in blood glucose control).

Several medications are used to relieve nerve pain, but they don't work for everyone and most have side effects that must be weighed against the benefits they offer.

Anti-seizure medications. Drugs such as gabapentin (Neurontin), pregabalin (Lyrica) and carbamazepine (Tegretol) were originally developed to treat seizure disorders (epilepsy), but they're also prescribed for nerve pain.
Gabapentin (Neurontin®): It is usually taken by mouth three times per day. Side effects can include dizziness and confusion. Gabapentin can be taken with a TCA or duloxetine. In some cases, a large dose of gabapentin can be taken at night to help with sleep.
Pregabalin (Lyrica®): It is similar to gabapentin. Pregabalin is taken by mouth, starting at bedtime at a low dose, and then gradually increasing to three times per day over a period of several weeks.

Side effects can include dizziness, sleepiness, confusion, swelling in the feet and ankles, and weight gain. It may be possible to become addicted to pregabalin, and changes in dosing should be monitored carefully. Pregabalin can be taken with duloxetine or TCAs, but not with gabapentin.

Tricyclic antidepressants — There are several tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) available for the treatment of chronic pain, including amitriptyline, nortriptyline, imipramine and desipramine. The dose of TCA used to treat neuropathy is much lower than that used to treat depression. TCAs may provide relief for mild to moderate symptoms by interfering with chemical processes in your brain that cause you to feel pain, but they also cause a number of side effects. TCAs are usually taken at bedtime, starting with a low dose and gradually increasing over a period of several weeks. People with heart disease should not take amitriptyline or nortriptyline. TCAs can be taken with gabapentin and pregabalin, but should not be taken with duloxetine. Side effects can include dry mouth, sleepiness, dizziness, and constipation.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as paroxetine and fluoxetine hydrochloride, have fewer side effects but work less well for pain. Newer antidepressants called serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are often a better choice, relieving pain with few side effects.
Duloxetine (Cymbalta®): is an antidepressant that is often effective in relieving pain caused by diabetic neuropathy. In short-term clinical trials, duloxetine was more effective than placebo. However, the long-term effectiveness and safety of duloxetine for diabetic neuropathy is uncertain. There are no trials comparing duloxetine with other drugs for the treatment of diabetic polyneuropathy.

Duloxetine is usually taken by mouth once per day on a full stomach, although in some cases it is taken twice per day. It should not be taken by people who take other antidepressant medications. Side effects can include nausea, sleepiness, dizziness, decreased appetite, and constipation.

Tramadol (Ultram®): is a pain medication that can be taken for breakthrough pain; in severe cases, it can be taken every 6 hours (4 times per day). It can cause sedation, dizziness and confusion. It can be taken with pregabalin, duloxetine, gabapentin and TCAs.
Lidocaine patch: Lidocaine is an anesthetic drug that may be recommended if other treatments have not improved pain. You apply it to the area where your pain is most severe. The patch slowly releases the medication over time. Up to four patches may be applied for up to 18 hours per day. It has almost no side effects, although it may cause a rash in some people.
Alpha-lipoic acid: One of the most interesting developments in pain research is the discovery that alpha-lipoic acid, a powerful antioxidant found in food, may be effective at relieving the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. Studies used an intravenous form of ALA, which isn't yet available, however, and researchers caution that it's not known whether over-the-counter supplements have the same effect. Several short-term trials showed that it was helpful in relieving pain caused by diabetic neuropathy. Thus, ALA may be recommended to people with diabetic neuropathy who do not improve with or who cannot tolerate other treatments. However, longer-term studies are still needed to confirm its safety and effectiveness. In the United States, ALA is available without a prescription as a dietary supplement. It is usually taken by mouth once per day.

Capsaicin: This is the chemical that gives hot peppers their bite. When applied to the skin, capsaicin creams can reduce pain sensations in some people.
Opioid analgesics, such as codeine or oxycodone may be used to relieve pain. But this class of medications may produce serious side effects, including addiction, that make long-term use of them undesirable.

Other Types of Therapy

Several drug-free therapies and techniques also may help with pain relief. Doctors frequently use them in conjunction with medications, but some may be effective on their own. They include:

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Your doctor may prescribe this therapy, which can help prevent pain signals from reaching your brain. TENS delivers tiny electrical impulses to specific nerve pathways through small electrodes placed on your skin. Although safe and painless, TENS doesn't work for everyone or for all types of pain.
Biofeedback. This therapy uses a special machine to teach you how to control certain body responses that reduce pain. You then learn how to control these same responses yourself. Biofeedback techniques are often taught in medical centers and hospitals.
Acupuncture. The National Institutes of Health has found that acupuncture can be an effective treatment for chronic pain, possibly including the pain of neuropathy. Keep in mind that you may not get immediate relief with acupuncture and will likely require more than one session.
Hypnosis. Many adults can be hypnotized by a trained professional, but for hypnosis to be most effective, you also have to be a willing and motivated participant. During hypnosis, you'll typically receive suggestions intended to decrease your perception of pain.
Relaxation techniques. Designed to help reduce the muscle tension that makes pain worse, relaxation techniques range from deep-breathing exercises to visualization (imagining yourself floating in a tropical ocean, for example), yoga and meditation. You might want to take classes in one or more of these techniques, or you can learn them yourself using books or tapes.

Managing Complications

Specific treatments exist for many of the complications of neuropathy, including:

Urinary tract problems. Antispasmodic medications (anticholinergics), behavioral techniques such as timed urination, and devices such as pessaries — rings inserted into the vagina to prevent urine leakage — may be helpful in treating loss of bladder control. Often, a combination of therapies may be most effective.
Digestive problems. Gastroparesis can usually be helped by eating smaller, more frequent meals, reducing fiber and fat in the diet, and, for many people, eating soups and pureed foods. Diarrhea, constipation and nausea may be helped with dietary changes and medications.
Low blood pressure on standing (orthostatic hypertension). This is often helped with simple lifestyle measures, such as avoiding alcohol, drinking plenty of water and standing up slowly. Several medications, either alone or together, also may be used to treat orthostatic hypotension. For example, the drug fludrocortisone helps boost your blood volume, which in turn raises blood pressure.
Sexual dysfunction. Sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis) and vardenafil (Levitra) can improve sexual function in some men, but these medications aren't effective or safe for everyone. When medications don't work, many men turn to vacuum devices, or, if these fail, to penile implants. Women may be helped with vaginal lubricants and estrogen creams.

Prevention

You can help prevent or delay diabetic neuropathy and its complications by keeping your blood sugar consistently well controlled, taking good care of your feet and following a healthy lifestyle.

Blood Sugar Control

Keeping your blood sugar tightly controlled every day is a big commitment. It requires constant monitoring and, if you take insulin, frequent doses of medication. But keeping your blood sugar as close to normal as possible is the best way to help prevent neuropathy and other complications of diabetes. Consistency is important because shifts in blood sugar levels can accelerate nerve damage.

Foot Care

Foot problems, including sores that don't heal, ulcers and even amputation, are the most common complication of diabetic neuropathy. But many of these problems can be prevented by having a comprehensive foot exam at least once a year, having your doctor check your feet at each office visit and taking good care of your feet at home.

To protect the health of your feet:

Check your feet every day. People with neuropathy do not always feel pain when there is a wound or injury on the foot. As a result, daily foot care is necessary to monitor for changes in the skin (such as cracks or wounds), which can increase the risk of infection. Check the entire surface of both feet for skin breaks, blisters, swelling, or redness, including between and underneath the toes where damage may be hidden. If you can't see some parts of your feet, use a mirror or ask a family member or friend to examine those areas. Look for blisters, cuts, bruises, cracked and peeling skin, and redness and swelling.
Keep your feet clean and dry. Wash your feet every day with lukewarm water and mild soap. If your feet can't sense temperature, test the water by touching a dampened washcloth to a sensitive part of your body, such as your neck or wrist. Dry your feet gently by blotting or patting. Rubbing may damage your skin. Dry carefully between your toes. Then moisturize your skin thoroughly to prevent cracking.
Trim your toenails carefully. Trim the toe nails along the shape of the toe and file the nails to remove any sharp edges. Never cut (or allow a manicurist to cut) the cuticles. Do not open blisters, try to free ingrown toenails, or otherwise break the skin on the feet. See a healthcare provider or podiatrist for even minor procedures. If you're not able to reach your feet, ask a family member, your doctor or a podiatrist to help you.
Wear clean, dry socks. You don't need to buy special socks for people with diabetes, but do look for socks made of cotton or moisture-wicking fibers that don't have tight bands or thick seams. Select socks that fit loosely, and change socks every day.
Wear shoes that fit well. Always wear shoes to protect your feet from injury. Make sure that your shoes fit properly and are not tight. Break new shoes in slowly to prevent blisters. It's best to try on shoes later in the day when your feet are more swollen to ensure that the shoes aren't too tight. A podiatrist can teach you how to buy properly fitted shoes and to prevent problems such as corns and calluses. Ask about customized shoes if the feet are misshapen or have ulcers; specialized shoes can reduce the chances of developing foot ulcers in the future. Shoe inserts may also help cushion the step and decrease pressure on the soles of the feet.
Avoid activities that can injure the feet. Some activities increase the risk of foot injury and are not recommended, including walking barefoot, using a heating pad or hot water bottle on the feet, and stepping into the bathtub before testing the temperature with the hand.
Ask for foot exams — Screening for foot complications should be a routine part of most medical visits, but is sometimes overlooked. At each visit, the shoes and socks should be removed and the clinician should visually examine the feet. Do not hesitate to ask the healthcare provider for a complete foot check at least once a year, and more frequently if there are problems.

If problems do occur, a podiatrist can help treat them to prevent more-serious conditions from developing. Even small sores can quickly turn into severe infections if left untreated. Shoes that fit well can be costly.

Lifestyle Choices

These measures also can help reduce your risk of diabetic neuropathy:

Keep your blood pressure under control. People with diabetes are about twice as likely to have high blood pressure as people who don't have diabetes. Having both high blood pressure and diabetes greatly increases your risk of complications because both damage your blood vessels and reduce blood flow. Try to keep your blood pressure in the range your healthcare provider recommends, and be sure to have it checked at every office visit. Also consider checking it regularly at home.
Make healthy food choices. Eat a balanced diet that includes a variety of healthy foods — especially fruits, vegetables and whole grains — and limit portion sizes to help achieve or maintain a healthy weight.
Be active every day. In addition to helping you achieve a healthy weight, daily activity protects your heart and improves blood flow. It also plays a major role in keeping your blood sugar and blood pressure under control.
Stop smoking. If you have diabetes and use tobacco in any form, you're more than twice as likely as nonsmokers with diabetes to die of heart attack and stroke. And you're more likely to develop circulation problems in your feet. If you use tobacco, talk to your doctor about ways to quit.
Follow your doctor's recommendations for good foot care
Maintain a healthy weight
Avoid alcohol entirely or, if drinking is allowed, have no more than one drink a day if you're a woman and no more than two drinks a day if you're a man.

Diabetes and Exercise

2010-09-22T11:24:00.003+04:00

Why is exercise important for people with diabetes?

When you exercise, your body becomes more sensitive to insulin. This means that it takes less insulin to manage your diabetes. For most people with diabetes, just taking a walk every day can cut the amount of medications they need to control their blood sugar.

Benefits of Exercise for People with Diabetes

Lowers blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol
Improves circulation
Reduces the need for insulin and oral medications
Prevents weight gain and promotes weight loss (having too much body fat can make diabetes worse)
Strengthens the heart, muscles and bones
Improves strength, flexibility and endurance
Improves brain function and mood
Lowers stress

How do you get started with an exercise routine?

Before you begin an exercise routine, your healthcare team will evaluate your heart, kidneys, feet, and nervous system to make sure you are healthy enough for physical activity. Some types of activities may not be appropriate for you. For example, if you have problems with the nerves in your feet, your doctor might recommend a type of exercise that doesn’t put pressure on your feet.

As you start to exercise, start slowly so that your body can get used to it. Start with a 5 to 10 minute walk outdoors or on a treadmill, and then gradually add a few more minutes of walking each week. Once your body gets used to walking, try adding new activities like swimming, cycling, dancing or aerobic classes.

What should you know about diabetes medications and exercising?

You should check your blood glucose level before and after exercise, especially if you take insulin or oral medications to lower blood sugar. Exercise changes the way your body reacts to insulin and this can cause swings in blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia). These are serious conditions but with the right monitoring, they can be avoided. Fear of these conditions should not keep you from exercising.

Because exercise helps to lower blood sugar, some diabetes medication doses may need to be adjusted as you go about your exercise program.

Blood Glucose Levels and Exercising

• If your blood sugar is 300 mg/dL or higher before exercising, you should not
exercise because your sugar level could go higher.
• If your blood sugar is less than 100 mg/dL before exercising, you should eat a snack.

Diabetes and Diet

2010-09-22T11:08:00.000+04:00

How are diabetes and nutrition linked?

Glucose (sugar) is produced by the body from the foods you eat, mainly carbohydrates. So your food choices have an impact on your glucose levels.

The major nutrients in food are protein, fat, and carbohydrates. You need all of these nutrients in your diet. Among the many different sources of these nutrients, some are better for you than others. For example, lean white meat (such as chicken breast with no skin) is a healthier source of protein than fatty red meat (such as hamburger). Liquid vegetable oils (such as olive and canola) are more heart-healthy than solid fats (such as margarine and butter). There are also differences among carbohydrates, and these differences are important in diabetes control.

What are carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates (carbs) are the sugars, starches, and fiber in your diet. Starch is in breads, pasta, cereals, potatoes, beans, peas, and lentils. Natural sugars are in fruits, milk, and vegetables. Added sugars are in desserts, sweetened beverages, and candy. Fiber is in all plant foods (vegetables, fruits, and beans).

Unlike refined grains like white flour, whole grains contain more fiber, vitamins and minerals. Brown rice, wild rice, oats, corn, barley, whole wheat breads, whole wheat pasta, millet, quinoa are some examples of whole grains.

How much and what types of carbs should you eat?

The amount of carbs you should eat depends on your gender, size, age, activity level, and medications. A carbohydrate choice is 15g of carbohydrate per serving. Most adult women require at least 3–4 carbohydrate choices (45–60g) at each meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner), while adult males require about 4–5 carbohydrate choices (60–75g) at each meal.

Examples of 1 carbohydrate choice

1/3 cup of cooked rice or pasta
1/2 cup of cooked oatmeal
1 slice of bread (1 ounce)
1/2 cup of corn
1/4 large cooked potato
1/2 cup of cooked beans (black, kidney)
1 small fruit or 4 ounces of fruit juice
8 ounces of milk
6 ounces of plain yogurt

While the amount of carbohydrate is important, so is the quality. Whole grains, beans, vegetables, and fruits are best.

How do carbohydrates affect blood sugar levels in diabetes?

When carbs are eaten and digested, they change into sugar. Management of diabetes depends on controlling the amount of sugar in your bloodstream. The goal is to keep blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible.

Eating the same amount of carbs daily can help blood glucose levels stay on target. Checking blood glucose levels two hours after meals will allow you to adjust the amount of carbohydrates needed to maintain blood glucose control.

Diabetis and New Insulins

2010-09-22T10:20:00.003+04:00

What are the different types of insulin?
There are several types of insulin. They are classified by how fast they work and how long they continue to work in the body. They include:

Mealtime (or “bolus”) insulin: Short-acting insulins given before meals to control the rise of blood sugar levels after eating. They are usually given in combination with basal (long-acting) insulin:
1. Short-acting: Regular insulin
2. Rapid-acting: Lispro, aspart, glulisine

Basal insulin: Controls blood sugar levels between meals and throughout the night. This is usually given once daily and can be used alone or in combination with oral anti-diabetic medications or rapid-acting insulins:
1. Intermediate acting: NPH
2. Long acting: Glargine and detemir

Pre-mixed—Combination of bolus and basal insulins. Controls blood sugar levels after and between meals. These are usually given twice daily before breakfast and dinner. They can be used alone or in combination with oral medications.

The type of insulin your doctor prescribes will depend on the type of diabetes you have, your lifestyle (e.g., foods you eat, how much you exercise), your age, your body’s response to insulin, and how often you are able or willing to check your blood sugar and give yourself injections.

What are the “new” insulins?

In recent years, scientists have developed new products called insulin analogues or “designer” insulins. These have been genetically engineered to better match the insulin produced by your body (or pancreas).

Insulin analogs have been shown to make it easier to control blood glucose. By controlling and preventing blood sugar swings, namely hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) and hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) they may reduce the risk of diabetic complications and improve quality of life for people with diabetes.

Same as traditional insulins, the new insulin analogs are taken by injections with a syringe, an insulin pen or an insulin pump. Injectable products include long-acting, basal insulins (e.g., glargine and determir) and rapid acting, bolus insulins (e.g., lispro, aspart, and glulisine).

Some of the new insulins have not yet been approved for use during pregnancy. If you have gestational diabetes, talk with your doctor to see what may be the best insulin for you.

Choosing an insulin delivery device

If your diabetes treatment plan includes insulin therapy, you can choose between various insulin delivery devices.

Syringe and needle

Many people choose to inject insulin with disposable syringes and needles. You withdraw insulin from a bottle into a syringe, and then inject the medication in the layer of fat under your skin — often in the abdomen. Insulin syringes come in various sizes to match insulin dosage. Needles also come in varying lengths.

Pros: Disposable syringes and needles are inexpensive. Injections are quick, once you get the hang of it. Syringes with large print are available if needed.
Cons: Withdrawing insulin from a bottle may not be discreet, and it's challenging if you don't see well or your fingers are numb, stiff or shaky.

Refillable insulin pen
Refillable insulin pens have the same features as disposable pens. But instead of discarding the pen when it's out of insulin, you replace the insulin cartridge yourself. When you're not using the pen, you protect the insulin cartridge with a cover that looks like the top of an ink pen.

Pros: Refillable insulin pens are convenient, discreet and easier to use than a syringe and needle. They're especially useful for people who use very low doses of insulin.
Cons: Refillable insulin pens cost about the same as disposable insulin pens, but more than syringes and needles. You may need to give yourself two injections if you use more than one type of insulin.

Disposable insulin pen

A disposable insulin pen resembles an ink pen. The cartridge is pre-filled with insulin, and the tip is a needle. You turn a dial to mark the amount of insulin you need and press a plunger to inject the insulin. You attach a new needle for each injection. When the insulin is gone, you discard the entire pen.

Pros: Disposable insulin pens are convenient, discreet and easier to use than a syringe and needle.
Cons: Disposable insulin pens cost more than syringes and needles. You may need to give yourself two injections if you use more than one type of insulin.

Insulin pump

An insulin pump can help you manage your diabetes. By using an insulin pump, you can match your insulin to your lifestyle, rather than getting an insulin injection and matching your life to how the insulin is working. When you work closely with your diabetes care team, insulin pumps can help you keep your blood glucose levels within your target ranges. People of all ages with type 1 diabetes use insulin pumps and people with type 2 diabetes have started to use them as well.

How do insulin pumps work?

An insulin pump delivers infusions of insulin through a catheter placed in the layer of fat under the skin.

Insulin pumps deliver rapid- or short-acting insulin 24 hours a day through a catheter placed under the skin. Your insulin doses are separated into:

Basal insulin, which is delivered continuously over 24 hours, and keeps your blood glucose levels in range between meals and overnight. Often, you program different amounts of insulin at different times of the day and night.
Bolus doses to cover carbohydrate in meals, when you eat, you use buttons on the insulin pump to give additional insulin called a bolus. You take a bolus to cover the carbohydrate in each meal or snack. If you eat more than you planned, you can simply program a larger bolus of insulin to cover it.
Correction or supplemental doses, you also take a bolus to treat high blood glucose levels. If you have high blood glucose levels before you eat, you give a correction or supplemental bolus of insulin to bring it back to your target range.

Where to put the insulin pump?

Insulin pumps come in different types, shapes, colors, and features. They are approved for use in children, adults and pregnant women.

Knowing how an insulin pump works is one thing. But you may be wondering where you are supposed to put it. You can buy a pump case or it can be attached to a waistband, pocket, bra, garter belt, sock, or underwear. You can also tuck any excess tubing into the waistband of your underwear or pants.

When you sleep, you could try laying the pump next to you on the bed. You could even try wearing it on a waistband, armband, legband, or clip it to the blanket, sheet, pajamas, stuffed toy, or pillow with a belt clip.

Showering and bathing are other instances when you should know where to put your insulin pump. Although insulin pumps are water resistant, they should not be set directly in the water. Instead, you can disconnect it. All insulin pumps have a disconnect port for activities, such as swimming, bathing, or showering. Some pumps can be placed on the side of the tub, in a shower caddy, or in a soap tray. There are also special cases you can buy. You can hang these cases from your neck or from a shower curtain hook.

No matter what you may think, you can still have fun when you are using an insulin pump. When you exercise or play sports, you can wear a strong elastic waist band with a pump case. You can also wear it on an armband where it is visible. Women can tape the insulin pump to the front of their sports bra. Some coaches do not allow any devices to be worn because getting the pump knocked into you or falling on it can be painful. In this case, you may just need to take the insulin pump off.

When you disconnect your pump, you are stopping all delivery (basal and bolus) by the pump. Here are some important tips to remember when disconnecting your pump.

It is important for you to remember that if you stop your pump while it is in the middle of delivering any bolus -- it will NOT be resumed. You may need to program a new one.
Be sure to bolus to cover the basal rate you will miss. If your blood glucose level is under 150, you can wait an hour to bolus.
Do not go longer than one to two hours without any insulin.
Monitor your blood glucose every three to four hours.

Now that you know how the insulin pump works and how to wear it, take a look at some of the facts to see if this is right for you.

Advantages of Using an Insulin Pump
Some advantages of using an insulin pump instead of insulin injections are:

Eliminates multiple daily insulin injections
Delivers insulin more accurately than injections
Insulin pumps often improve A1C
Usually results in fewer large swings in your blood glucose levels
Makes diabetes management easier – if your glucose level is high or you feel like eating, figure out how much insulin you need and push the little button on the pump
Allows you to be flexible about when and what you eatCan improve your quality of life
Reduces severe low blood glucose episodes
Eliminates unpredictable effects of intermediate- or long-acting insulin
Allows you to exercise without having to eat large amounts of carbohydrate

Although there are many good reasons as to why using an insulin pump can be an advantage, there are some disadvantages.

Disadvantages of Using an Insulin Pump
The disadvantages of using a pump are that it:

Can cause weight gain
Can cause diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) if your catheter comes out and you don’t get insulin for hours
Can be expensive
Can be bothersome since you are attached to the pump most of the time
Can require a hospital stay or maybe a full day in the outpatient center to be trained

There are pluses and minuses to using a pump. Even though using an insulin pump has disadvantages, most pump users agree the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Getting Started
Once you have talked with your diabetes care team and have become comfortable with all of the options on your insulin pump, you and your team will need to determine how much insulin to use in the insulin pump (basal rates, boluses, and corrections) by using certain formulas and calculations.

It may take several months to get comfortable with the pump. During those first months is the time to adopt some good habits. Here are some tips to help you adjust:

Take your insulin at a specific time, such as five minutes before you eat, so you don't forget boluses.
When traveling anywhere, bring extra supplies or at least an insulin pen, in case you are unable to use your pump for some reason.
With an insulin pump, when you eat, what you eat, and how much you eat is up to you. You can eat more carbohydrate and still manage your blood glucose, but weight gain can happen. Talk to a dietitian about this when you start on the pump. It's a lot easier to not to gain weight, than it is to lose it after you have already gained it.
When you take the insulin pump off or turn it off, figure out a system to remember to turn it back on. Listen to the alarms on the pump or set a timer!
Make a habit of recording blood glucose checks, carbohydrate amounts, carbohydrate doses, correction doses, and exercise when you do them. It really helps to sit down and look over your blood glucose record at the end of every week (or even every day) to see if you have any problem areas. Reviewing your records is the key to improving blood glucose control.

Your diabetes care team has record forms, or you can make your own. Just be sure that you have enough room to record everything you need. Keeping daily records is best, but some people find keeping records for two weekdays and one weekend day gives enough information to see the patterns.

This is a lot of information. Fortunately, you don't need to be an expert on insulin pumps overnight. If you are uncertain about anything, you can go to your diabetes care team for help. Everyone learns at a different pace and it is okay if it takes you a while to get the hang of it.

Resources

American Diabetes Association: www.diabetes.org
National Diabetes Education Program (NIH): http://ndep.nih.gov
National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NIDDK): http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/

About Diabetes: Newer Medications and Newer Insulins

2010-09-22T10:06:00.001+04:00

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you may feel overwhelmed by all the new information you have learned and will continue to learn about managing your diabetes. You already know your main goal should be to get your blood glucose (sugar) levels under control in order to increase your chances of a complication-free life. Many people know this, but need to know how to achieve good diabetes management, while balancing the day-to-day demands of diabetes with other life demands.

What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease characterized by levels of glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream that are higher than normal. Glucose is produced by the body from the foods that you eat. The pancreas, an organ located in the abdomen just behind the stomach, produces insulin. Insulin is a hormone that takes the glucose from the bloodstream and carries it inside your body’s cells where it is used for energy.

Diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce insulin or when the body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin. Sometimes it is a combination of both problems. In either case, the result is that glucose does not enter the cells and builds up in the blood.

What are the major types of diabetes?

There are three major types of diabetes:

Type 1 Diabetes—usually seen in children and young adults; with this type of diabetes the pancreas does not produce any insulin.
Type 2 Diabetes—usually associated with obesity, an inactive lifestyle and aging. With this type of diabetes the body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin, and in advanced stages the pancreas gets exhausted and stops producing enough amounts of insulin.
Gestational Diabetes—High blood sugars that occurs during pregnancy caused, in part, by normal hormones made by the placenta. It is usually reversible once the mother delivers the baby.

What are the risks of diabetes?

Keeping blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible is a key to the prevention of a number of serious complications from diabetes including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve damage, and foot problems that may require amputation.

How is diabetes treated?
Treatment for diabetes depends on the type of diabetes you have and how well you respond to treatments. To keep blood glucose levels as close to normal the most common treatment options are:

Lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, and weight loss if necessary)
Oral (by mouth) medications
Injectable medications
Multiple Insulin injections daily with or without other medications
Insulin Pump

Different medications lower your blood sugar in different ways. Persons with type 1 diabetes need insulin. Patients with type 2 diabetes are usually treated with oral medications (pills) for months to several years, but often go on to require insulin to maintain glucose control. (Some people may never need to go on insulin.)

Abu Dhabi diabetes treatment centre accredited

2010-09-21T12:16:00.007+04:00

Imperial College London Diabetes Centre (ICLDC) has received its second accolade for superior healthcare in less than a year.

The Centre, established by Mubadala Healthcare in 2006 as part of its strategy to bring world-class medical expertise to the region, was recently awarded the Joint Commission International (JCI) Accreditation in Clinical Care.

This follows ICLDC's JCI Accreditation in Ambulatory Care received last year, making it the only healthcare provider worldwide to hold both accreditations.
"The accreditation criteria for JCI's Clinical Care Programme Certification (CCPC) were enhanced two months ago and ICLDC was swift to undergo the meticulous assessment which evaluates clinical services in patient care," said Dr Maha

Taysir Barakat, ICLDC's Medical '&' Research Director and Consultant Endocrinologist.
She also confirmed that ICLDC is now the first facility in the Middle East, and third globally to hold JCI's highly-acclaimed CCPC specifically for the clinical management of diabetes.

Since 1994, Joint Commission International has worked alongside healthcare organisations, health ministries and global organisations in more than 80 countries to improve patient care. They do this through the provision of accreditation and certification services, as well as by advisory and educational services aimed at helping organisations implement practical and sustainable solutions.

Dr Maha advised that the internationally-recognised JCI Accreditation and Certification provide quantifiable benchmarks that focus on the quality of patient care and patient safety.

Meanwhile, Suhail Al Ansari, Associate Director of Mubadala Healthcare and Chairman of ICLDC said "This is a significant milestone for Imperial College London Diabetes Centre. The JCI accreditations stand in testament to the Centre's achievements over the past four years, as well as to the tremendous impact it has had on diabetes awareness and treatment in the region." Mubadala Healthcare recently announced its plans to expand the services of Imperial College London Diabetes Centre with a second facility in Al Ain, which is scheduled for completion in 2011.

UAE’s healthcare market is estimated to touch Dhs44bn ($12bn) by 2015

2009-03-06T20:08:00.000+04:00

Over the years, the UAE has witnessed significant expansion in healthcare and wellness facilities, which has put emphasis on the appeal for healthy living. The total healthcare market in the UAE is estimated to touch Dhs44bn ($12bn) by 2015, reported the official news agency WAM. Approximately Dhs11bn ($3bn) of this accounts for wellness products and services sectors.

Leading regional and international companies specializing in Wellness and Spa products and services, will be exhibiting at the Wellness and Spa Middle East exhibition, from June 7-9, 2009 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

‘An ageing population of baby boomers, and the increasing stress of modern life has created a boom in wellness retreats and spas around the world,’said Ms. Elisabeth Brehl, Managing Director of Epoc Messe Frankfturt, the organizers of the exhibition.

‘Personal wellness is starting to become a lifestyle trend as people seek relaxation and a respite from the pressures of daily life, and activities that cultivate physical, spiritual and mental wellbeing are becoming important to many people in deciding how to spend their leisure time.’ She added, ‘Everyone’s lives have become so busy and overcrowded. A chance to breathe, relax and engage in a renewing activity and environment is becoming vital.’ With the worldwide prevalent trend of wellness retreats and spas all over the world, there are many opportunities for people to participate in wellness tourism from luxury spa weekends and yoga retreats, to Ayurvedic spas that include a spiritually renewing program.

According to research, Americans and Canadians have spent Dhs41.10bn and Dhs4bn on wellness and spas tourism respectively over the last two years. Wellness and anti ageing are a trillion dollar business globally.

Research has shown that the demography of this region is dominated by a young population. Combined with increased spending power, in this affluent society, the lifestyle aspirations of the majority now encompasses healthy body and mind.

In 2008, the twin exhibitions Beautyworld Middle East and Wellness and Spas Middle East, registered an increase of 38% in trade visitors over that of the previous year. The exhibitions attracted 850 exhibitors representing 1,650 brands from 50 countries. In addition 31 country pavilions exhibited, reaffirming Beautyworld’s and Wellness ‘&’ Spas’ roles as the biggest and most authoritative shows of their kind in the Middle East region.

Wellness and Spas Middle East gathers international spa and fitness club operators and professionals, hotel operators as well as architects and designers. It brings the world’s leading manufacturers together to introduce their latest products and equipment from day spa treatment cabins to body toners. It is the most successful showcase in the region for the latest in spa centres and resorts.

Hotline to guide mothers on breastfeeding

2008-05-24T19:24:00.000+04:00

The Department of Health and Medical Services (Dohms) will soon set up a hotline to guide mothers on breastfeeding, according to a health official.

"The ratio of breastfeeding is extremely low among UAE national women in the country. To encourage women to opt for this natural method rather than bottle feeding their babies, we will be providing this facility to them soon," said Dr Fatima Sultan Al Olma, head of the Mother and Babycare Unit at Dohms, explaining the reason behind the need to set up such clinics in the emirate.

She also explained that the hotline was part of the phased implementation of the baby-friendly clinics initiative in PHCs around the emirate.

"The objective of the project is to spread health awareness among mothers about pregnancy, breastfeeding and nutrition suitable for children at different stages of their lives," she said.

The project has already been implemented in Al Bed'a and Al Mamzar clinics in the first stages.

"Before this implementation, the staff at these clinics had to undergo a 20-hour orientation programme so that the clinics could acquire international accreditation as baby-friendly clinics by the World Health Organisation (WHO)," said Dr Fatima.
/Khaleej Times/

Bringing banned drugs to UAE can land you in jail

2008-05-18T06:56:00.003+04:00

Having medicines in your travel bag is second nature to most people, but if you’re not careful, those medicines to relieve a cough or treat painful gastric ulcers can land you in jail.

As signatory to the 1988 UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, which enforces two earlier conventions against narcotics and psychotropic substances, the UAE prohibits certain chemicals, and medicines with these chemicals, from entering the country.

Some medicines, which are over-the-counter in other countries, are also considered controlled items in the UAE as they produce effects that contravene local laws.

To bring these medicines in, residents and non-residents alike must have a medical prescription from a UAE-licenced physician. For those who received treatment abroad, they must show a medical report from a doctor detailing their illness and the reason for taking the medicines.

Dr Easa Al Mansouri, director of the Pharmacy and Drug Supply Department at the Ministry of Health, said this was to make sure that the medicines would be used legally. “How can [the customs officer] be sure if [an overseas] prescription is legitimate?” he said.

“If they have a medical report with them, then nobody should stop them,” added Humaid Al Shamsi, assistant undersecretary for pharmaceutical supplies at the ministry.

To be on the safe side, both suggested visitors and residents should forego bringing in the ‘dodgy’ medicine and get a prescription upon arrival in the UAE. However, that might be a problem as many people are unaware of these regulations until they land in trouble.

Although the troublesome medicines are listed in various UAE health websites - there are 365 of them - finding them is a roundabout process.

“There are no warnings posted at the airport. Travel agencies don’t tell us,” said Dr Mohammad Samir, who recently moved to Dubai.

“My friend’s mother was stopped once because she brought in a medicine her doctor prescribed to her in the UK that’s not allowed here,” said Dr Baher Massoud, medical director at a pharmaceutical company.

“It’s very important to know. If we bring a medicine and we don’t know it’s illegal, it may jeopardise [our stay in the UAE],” added Michael Lopez, who recently moved to Dubai from the Philippines.

Banned Drugs

*The UAE has identified a group of drugs with the potential to lead to addiction if not controlled and has prohibited their entry.
For a full list you can visit the UAE ministry of health website

* Many common cold and cough remedies, which you might assume to be harmless, must be accompanied by a prescription. Many of these drugs are available over-the-counter (OTC) in other countries.

* Some sleeping tablets, painkillers, anti-depressants and hormone replacement therapy drugs are banned here.

* Poppy seeds, a common ingredient in dishes in some countries, are illegal her.

* Betel leaves and betel nuts are also banned.

* All kinds of sex stimulants are banned.

* Some controlled drugs according to UAE Federal Law are alfentanil, amphetamine, codeine, fentanyl, ketamine, methadone, methyphenidate and morphine.

* The trade names of some controlled medicines which are registered as medicines in the UAE (i.e. a doctor’s prescription is required) Ketalar, Physeptone, Ritalin, Sosegon, Subutex Ultiva, Abilify, Anexate, Arthrotec, Ativan, Barnetil, Buccastem, Clopixol, Cytotec, 123 Cold, Actifed Compound, Actifed DM, Activelle, Adol Cold, Adol Compound, Adumbran, Akineton, Algaphan, Anafranil, Andriol, Artane, Tussifin with codeine, Unified DM, Vesanoid, Virormone and Zoloft.

Please check with the UAE embassy in your country on prohibited or controlled medicines in the UAE before travelling.

A Health System the World has been Waiting for!

2008-05-13T20:53:00.003+04:00

Eat meat! Don’t eat meat! Drink milk! Don’t drink milk! Carbs are good for you! Carbs will make you fat! Go running! Don’t run do yoga!

The health industry has certainly done a good job of confusing the average consumer to the point of tears on how to lose weight or maintain optimal health… and with scientific backing to prove their claims.

So what is one supposed to do with all of this contradictory, scientifically proven information? Well it is not to sit down with a bowl of your favorite ice cream and just be happy being unfit. The secret is the PIDDDS 3-D Living Circle of Health system.

This is no gimmick. This is the honest truth! With hundreds of cases to back this claim, ALL OF THE CONTRADICTORY INFORMATION IS TRUE!

Yes! But it is just true for certain people depending only on their PIDDDS type!! It is that simple. It is necessary for some people to eat red meat, while others should avoid it like the plague!

And it is all easily spelled out to you in a comprehensive book on how to be regain your body’s initial state of perfection through the 3-D’s of the PIDDDS personal integrated system: Dynamics, Diet and Determination.

Through a unique process of realigning your body’s Dynamics to its intended position, through the proper Diet according to your PIDDDS type and through the Determination to follow through and adapt this as a lifestyle, ALL of your health problems can be improved. Depression, obesity, chronic pain, bed wetting, infertility you name it; can be addressed through PIDDDS… and most of the time through just two treatments.

PIDDDS was developed by Jose Garbe-Vilijn, who was inspired to write this book after a chance meeting with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai. Jose expressed her deepest concerns for the health of UAE citizens and explained that she knew of a way to help, a way that she had developed, which saved her own life. On that day she made a promise to HH to spread the word to the UAE on how they can easily maintain optimum health through a simple process of logic… this promise she has upheld.

Jose suffers from a genetic disorder, which caused her to experience brain bleeding some years ago. Brain bleeding is a condition that kills most of its sufferers, but because of her lifelong quest to devise a system for her optimum health, she saved her own life. The doctors said it was only because of her outstanding diet and way of living, that she was able to make it through.

Jose, a Dubai resident, is happy to bring to you the PIDDDS 3-D Living Circle of Health.
For more information or to set up an interview, contact +971 50 640 8687 or email info@piddds.com.
We wish you health!

An article on Dr. Azad Moopen

2008-04-23T14:27:00.005+04:00

Trust and care is what makes the world so beautiful. When it comes to taking care of your dear and near ones, Dr. Moopen’s group makes sure that you get the best in healthcare. Headquartered in the cosmopolitan city of Dubai, Dr. Moopen’s group is today one of the leading health care providers in the UAE. With a modest beginning in the year 1987 the group has emerged into a large conglomerate comprising of hospitals, diagnostic centres, polyclinics and pharmacies.

Dr. Moopen’s Group currently operates in UAE, Qatar, Oman and India. Their medical centres in Dubai are spread in various prominent places like Bur Dubai, Deira, Karama, Shaikh Zayed Road, Jumeirah, Al Quoz, Al Aweer, Jebel Ali (Gardens) and Dubai Healthcare City(DHCC). They are also setting up medical centres along with pharmacies in Dubai which are at different stages of completion. The first hospital of the group in Dubai was inaugurated at Mankhool and the second hospital of the group was inaugurated at Safa Park area.

“Right from our first step in the journey towards becoming the leading healthcare provider in GCC and India, the cornerstone of out triangle of care has been quality, accessibility and affordability. We believe that healthy individuals make healthy societies and when health comes first everything else follows. We strive tirelessly to bring advanced health care services and products within the easy reach of people we serve and are dedicated to deliver excellence in health care,” says Dr. Moopen, Chairman and Managing Director of Dr. Moopen’s Group.

How did it all begin?
We entered the field of healthcare in 1987 to bring quality medical care within the reach of people at affordable cost. Besides providing state-of-the-art treatment facilities by harnessing the latest medical innovations, our team is guided by the principle that the human touch plays an important role in health care delivery.

Thanks to the encouragement and support rendered to us by the Rulers, Government officials, Business partners and our loyal customers, we are contributing our share to the delivery of health care in the GCC. Our network of Neighbourhood Family Clinics, Medical and Diagnostic Centres and Medshops is being expanded by the addition of inpatient facilities through hospitals. Further we have expanded into the field of Healthcare Consultancy by establishing an office in the Dubai Healthcare City.

What medical facilities do you provide?
In keeping with the concept of total loving care, we started the Neighbourhood Family Clinics-Medcentre—a concept that defines proximity, comprehensiveness and affordability. At these family clinics a professional team of doctors and paramedics cater to the day-to-day healthcare requirements of residential neighbourhoods.

The Medcentres offer consultation services in General medicine, Paediatrics, Gynaecology, Dentistry, Cardiology, Neurology and Endocrinology, along with advanced laboratory and imaging facilities assure access to more sophisticated diagnosis and treatment.

Medshop is a unique pharmacy retail concept driven by the theme ‘much more than medicines’. Designed to be one-stop-shop for healthcare products, Medshop offers quality medical and allied products at the best prices. These customer friendly shops stock a wide variety of cosmetic, nutritional and baby care products. Systematically shelved, they allow easy over-the-counter service. In addition to easy availability of medicines and allied products, medshops have qualified staff who can guide customers on diet, nutrition, medical equipment etc. Making the Medshop concept more popular is the free home delivery service, a website which offers an exhaustive list of medicines and equipment with pricing, a Pharmacist helpline and detailed FAQ.

A network of hospitals with world class healthcare facilities is a part of my Group’s vision for expansion. This vision has become a reality with Al Rafa Hospital, a 20-bed community hospital providing affordable inpatient care for maternity and surgery. The hospital provides round the clock comprehensive obstetric and gynaecology treatment including antenatal and postnatal care with well contained maternity suite sand neonatal ICU. With two modern modular operation theatres and post-operative intensive care beds, the hospital provides surgical services in general and laparoscopic surgery,, urology, orthopaedics and ENT through in-house and visiting specialists and consultants. The hospital allows operating rights to qualified community doctors. Other facilities include laboratory, radiology and imaging services and in-house pharmacy.

What are the future plans?
By 2010, Dubai Healthcare City will become a globally acknowledged location of choice for healthcare and a centre of excellence for specialist medical services, medical education, life science research and technology leveraged healthcare services. My group is proud to be a part of this futuristic vision with its widely acclaimed initiative. Eurohealth Systems—catering to a global audience of professionals by offering a gamut of top-level management services.

Meeting the never ending demands for high calibre personnel with relevant industry exposure poses a significant challenge to modern day healthcare service providers. Our consultancy division—emedhr.com provides solutions to all health care related recruitment needs by carefully analyzing client profiles and requirement specifications—thus ensuring effective human resource management.

Proven expertise coupled with the experience of successfully managing a network of facilities places my group in a position to offer consultancy services to investors in the health care sector.
(By Remediana Dias)

Womens' wineglass should be half full

2008-04-23T07:43:00.002+04:00

Raising a glass of wine and wishing "Salud!" -- Health! -- is one of life's many pleasures.
But for women, this well-meaning cheer rings hollow: There's mounting evidence that drinking wine and other alcoholic beverages increases the risk of breast cancer.

That's not the image that many people have about sipping wine, beer or other alcoholic beverages in moderation. A recent Harvard study of 878 people found that nearly two-thirds of drinkers and about a third of teetotalers considered such imbibing to be safe and healthful. So healthful that about 30 percent of those surveyed said the purported health benefits of alcohol are one reason they drink.

The link between alcohol and breast cancer is something that "almost nobody in the study had heard about," says the survey's lead author, Kenneth Mukamal, an internist at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston. Only 10 percent correctly identified breast cancer as a possible risk of moderate drinking, the researchers reported in the journal Family Medicine.

Since the survey ended, Mukamal continues to informally poll people at cocktail parties. "I've spoken with other colleagues and friends who I would have considered to be fairly sophisticated consumers," he says. "And most have no idea about this, either."

Yet just this month, Danish researchers added to a substantial base of evidence linking alcohol consumption to an increased risk of breast cancer in women. These results offer a cautionary note for younger women and underscore that it's never too early to go easy on alcohol. The researchers tracked nearly 10,000 women for 27 years. They found that the amount of alcohol the women consumed when the study began, rather than after menopause, correlated best with their breast cancer risk nearly three decades later.

If women do drink, there's widespread agreement that they should avoid having more than one drink per day. (A drink is 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits such as whiskey, tequila or vodka.) Just that amount of alcohol translates to "about a 10 percent increased risk of breast cancer," says Eric Rimm, an associate professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health.

More alcohol equals more risk. How much more? "Some studies suggest that two or more drinks per day are associated with about a 30 to 40 percent increase in the risk of breast cancer," says JoAnn E. Manson, chief of preventive medicine at Harvard's Brigham and Women's Hospital and a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. For women who have other risk factors -- a mother or sister with breast cancer, for example -- "that can be a substantial risk," Manson notes.

Just how alcohol raises breast cancer risk is something that researchers are still trying to understand. Alcohol is known to boost estrogen and other hormones, which are linked to breast cancer. In animals, alcohol has also produced some abnormalities of the mammary gland.

Mixing alcohol with hormone replacement therapy can be particularly risky, since alcohol and estrogen seem to augment each other. "That combination is something to avoid," Manson says.

But there may be ways to help cut the risk from drinking alcohol. One nutrient under investigation is the B vitamin, folic acid. Also known as folate, this vitamin gets its name from the Latin word for leaf, because it occurs in green, leafy vegetables, such as spinach, turnip greens and Swiss chard. Citrus fruits and dried beans are also rich in folate. Research suggests that women who eat a lot of fruit and vegetables have a lower risk of breast cancer.

Since 1998, the Food and Drug Administration has mandated folate fortification in grain products, such as bread and pasta, to help prevent spina bifida and other neural-tube birth defects. Folate is also a common ingredient of multivitamins and of prenatal vitamins.

Alcohol blocks folate absorption from food. So researchers have wondered whether diets high in folate might offer protection against breast cancer among women who drink. A 1998 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association studied nearly 3,500 women with breast cancer and found no link between folate intake and overall breast cancer risk. But when researchers looked at women who had at least one drink of alcohol per day, they found that breast cancer risk was greatest among those with the lowest folate intake. "Our findings suggest that the excess risk of breast cancer associated with alcohol consumption may be reduced by adequate folate intake," the team reported.

In March, Manson and her colleagues published a report of a 10-year study of multivitamin use and breast cancer risk in nearly 40,000 women. Taking a multivitamin did not protect against breast cancer, except in women who consumed at least one drink daily. Those results "suggest that multivitamin use might help to counteract the elevated risk of breast cancer for women consuming alcohol," Manson says.

But experts say that doesn't mean that it's okay to imbibe and then pop a multivitamin or eat a lot of spinach to compensate. "There's no conclusive evidence that any vitamin or nutrient can cancel out the adverse effects of alcohol on breast cancer," Manson says. "Studies to date have been inconsistent."

Nor is there any evidence that one type of alcohol is better -- or worse -- than any other in terms of breast cancer risk. Red wine is often touted for health benefits. But there's "no clear evidence that beer or liquor is more or less likely to increase breast cancer risk than wine," Manson says.

What counts is how much you drink. Simply put, the more alcohol a woman drinks, the greater her risk of breast cancer. Or to put it another way, everything in moderation. Source

Healthy diet, exercise essential for healthy ageing

2008-04-21T21:31:00.002+04:00

Dr. Abdulrahman Mseiger, Chairman of the Arab Center For Nutrition in Bahrain, said a healthy diet system along with regular exercise constitute the basis for healthy ageing. Healthy diet requires eating the right quality and quantity for a person's age and physiological conditions, he added. Such a diet is important to provide the body with the necessary food elements and to protect against many diseases.

Dr. Mseiger spoke recently in a series of lectures across the UAE in preparation for "Abu Dhai Aging Conference 2008" due to be held next week at Emirates Palace under the patronage of H.H. Lt. Gen. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and will chaired by H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation and Chairperson of the General Women Association.

According to Dr. Mseiger, people should adop a healthy dietary system gradually. He says: "Although you cannot change your lifestyle over night, it is important to start changing. Over time, you will get used to a healthier lifestyle and will feel the difference in your health and your mood. Try starting by replacing some foods that have low dietary value with richer ones. If your fruits intake is too little, add more of your favorite fruits with or between meals. If you don?t exercise, don't rush- start by 10 to 15 minutes a day and make gradual increments." "Adult people and those approaching aging are advised to change to a healthy diet in order to get a healthy aging. To start with, they're advised to eat assorted meals. The human body needs over 40 nutrition elements to stay healthy and fight diseases. There is no single food that contains them all," Mseiger said.

"They should also pay attention to carbohydrates as a minimum of 60% of our energy intake should come from carbohydrates." Fruits and vegetables are also an essential part part of any healthy nutrition system. Not only they contain nutritive elements, they also contain fibers, which help fight cardio diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and constipation. In addition, fruits and vegetables are known to contain antioxidants, which help protect against cardio diseases and cancer.

Maintaining an ideal weight is also important. Dr. Mseiger says overweight increases the possibility of cardio diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure and even cancer. He says: it is not about fatty food, it is about how much fatty food we take.

Further advises from the chairman of Bahrain's Arab Center for Nutrition include regular exercise, regular, yet moderate meals, minimal salty food, without breaking the recommended amounts of food elements, less sweets and fatty food, and of course having regular breakfasts and dairy products.

In addition, Mseiger also advises individuals to quit smoking, minimize the time they spend watching TV, avoid alcohol and tension especially with food. He also recommends sharing food with other and says: Don't eat alone!
WAM

Schools to be educated on healthy foodstuffs

2008-04-20T08:09:00.001+04:00

"Heads of schools need to be educated on encouraging healthy foodstuffs in school canteens," said a senior official from the Ministry of Health.

Dr Fawzia Al Jaziri, Director of School Health Department, Dubai at the Ministry of Health, said lack of proper knowledge on the right kind of foods for children led to availability of unhealthy foods on school premises.

Pointing to the lack of proper laws on the issue in all emirates except Dubai, Dr Fawzia said it created a gap between the 'rules' and their strict implementation.

'The emirate of Dubai has formulated it's own rules in cooperation with the Dubai Municipality. If schools do not adhere to these rules, they are penalised. This is what is still required in all the other Northern Emirates,' she explained.

She pointed out that the MoH's role was to recommend to the Ministry of Education (MoE), the kind of foodstuffs to be made available in school canteens.

'The MoE is required to give a letter of regulations and conditions (after consultations with the MoH) to school heads pointing out the exact requirements for school canteens which should be followed. But complaints against food available in canteens can be lodged with the MoH though the MoE is required to take action,' she explained.

According to the MoH, healthy food should be stocked in canteens (no fizzy drinks, cheese, chips, burgers, i.e junk food is allowed) with proper refrigeration facilities. The ministry is also required to monitor school clinics.

'Samples of food are taken from the government school canteens randomly and occasionally to be checked for freshness. In case, there is a case of food poisoning, we need to have proof,' she said, stressing that laws needed to be tightened.

Dr Fawzia had conducted a study on school canteens in the UAE which she presented in the recently concluded Arab Children Health Congress.

Draft medical law bans human cloning in the UAE

2008-04-09T22:08:00.001+04:00

The Federal National Council (FNC) passed a medical liability draft law, which defines negligence, malpractice and mismanagement for the healthcare sector.

The draft law bans all human cloning, both reproductive and therapeutic. Medical experiments on humans are also banned unless a permit is obtained from the authorities, according to the law.

The illegal practice of cloning will be penalized with a prison term of up to five years or a fine of up to Dh500,000 or both.

The draft law, which requires the approval of the Cabinet and the President’s signature to be enacted into a law, also bans ending the life of patients for any reason and even on request from the patient or his or her custodian or guardian. Source

Early diagnosis is key to rheumatoid arthritis treatment

2008-03-12T07:58:00.001+04:00

There is a critical need to educate primary doctors in the region about effectively managing Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), say experts from the Women’s Initiative for Rheumatoid Arthritis (WIRA).
The experts have also underlined the need for general physicians to become aware of the warning signs of RA in order to prevent premature disability and death of patients.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease, most commonly affecting women, in which the body’s own immune system attacks itself and leads to the destruction of the joints and tissues. RA is the most crippling form of arthritis and can lead to death. Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis include joint morning stiffness for more than 30 minutes for more than one month; pain in the hands and/or feet for more than one month; symmetrical joint swelling (i.e. both hands/both feet); and fatigue, which leads to difficulty in completing physical tasks.

Dr Nadia Al Mazroui, Military Medical Services Director at the Directorate of Medical Services and WIRA spokesperson said, “Early treatment of RA can be a realistic goal only if general practitioners and other non-arthritis specialists recognise the subtle warning signs and can refer patients promptly to a specialist, also known as a rheumatologist. Nevertheless, early diagnosis of RA is often difficult and confusing for the general practitioner. This often leads to delays in the referral of RA from primary care.”

If left untreated, up to 30 per cent of persons with rheumatoid arthritis become permanently work-disabled within the first two years of diagnosis.

Patients who can promptly seek medical attention are able to swiftly gain control of the disease. According to Dr Ali Jawad, Consultant Rheumatologist for Barts and the London National Health Service Trust at the Royal London Hospital, UK,

“It has been shown that early, aggressive, effective treatment significantly reduces radiographic progression in RA.”

“There is a misconception among patients and physicians that RA cannot be halted. While the disease cannot be cured, diagnostic and treatment methods have significantly improved. Newly introduced blood tests, such as anti-MCV testing and new medication, and the new advancements will help us bring patients to remission.

“This means there will be no need for patients to continue suffering from pain or disability, and they will not need to undergo surgery,” added Dr Jamal Al Saleh, Head of Rheumatology Unit, Dubai Hospital. Source

Free check-ups in Abu Dhabi to create awareness on kidney disorders

2008-03-11T07:14:00.001+04:00

Free medical check-ups will be held as part of a public awareness on kidney disorders at the Abu Dhabi Khalifa Park next Friday.

The event will mark the the 2nd annual World Kidney Day (WKD) 2008. Experts say diabetes as the most common cause of Chronic Renal Failure or Chronic Kidney Disease in the UAE.

"When the kidney function falls to less than 10-15 per cent a person is considered to have End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and some form of renal replacement therapy is required to sustain life and maintain health. On World Kidney Day, we wish to raise public awareness and provide education about the importance of prevention and early detection of kidney diseases and hypertension to keep our kidneys safe and healthy," said Dr. Ali Al Obaidli, Clinical Director at the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) and Consultant Nephrologist at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC).

According to Dr Yassin Al Shahat, Nephrology Consultant, SKMC physicians should communicate the important consequences of the kidney and provide information on how diseases threatening once kidney, such as hypertension, can be treated and controlled.

"We aim to improve the knowledge, attitude, and behaviors of the general population and health professionals related to kidney disease risk factors. Public participation in health educational campaigns will encourage early detection, treatment, and control in hypertensive individuals."

The WKD 2008 initiative is part of the Renal Programme at SKMC in cooperation with the SEHA in a joint initiative with the Emirates Medical Association – Nephrology.

World Kidney Day

- The World Kidney Day was launched for the first time in 2006 and is usually held on the second Thursday of March.

- Doctors and nurses will be available at the Khalifa Park on Friday 14th March from 5pm to 11pm.

- To mark the 2nd annual 'World Kidney Day' several activities and check-up stations at Khalifa Park will include: Free blood pressure, height and weight checks and educational brochures and pamphlets on Kidney Diseases. Source

Free mammograms for women in need

2008-03-10T15:57:00.003+04:00

Your click on the "Click Here to Give - it's FREE" button helps fund free mammograms for women in need — low-income, inner-city and minority women whose awareness of breast cancer and opportunity for help is often limited. Your click is paid for by site sponsors, and mammogram funding is provided to clinics throughout the U.S. through the efforts of the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2007, 178,480 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 40,460 die. One woman in eight either has or will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. In addition, 2,030 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 450 will die this year.

If detected early, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer exceeds 96%. Mammograms are among the best early detection methods, yet 13 million U.S. women 40 years of age or older have never had a mammogram.

The National Cancer Institute and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommend that women in their forties and older have mammograms every one to two years. A complete early detection plan also includes regular clinical breast examinations by a trained medical professional. Monthly breast self-exams are suggested in addition. Source

Action plan on diet, exercise on cards

2008-03-08T19:23:00.001+04:00

Encouraging more of physical activity and promoting child nutrition will be the focus of this year’s Arab Children Health Congress (ACHC) 2008 scheduled to take place from March 24 to 27 at the Dubai International Convention Centre.
ACHC recently announced a partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the congress.
At a Press conference held recently, it was announced that WHO will work with the ACHC on developing an action plan on diet, physical activity and health for it’s Eastern Mediterranean Region Office (EMRO).

“This action plan will be the first to be developed among WHO’s six regions and is an implementation of the recommendations of the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health,” explained Dr Rowaida Al Maaitah, Public Health Professor and Chairperson Scientific Committee at ACHC.

She explained that the strategy addresses two of the major risk factors responsible for the heavy and growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancers and obesity-related conditions. “WHO will also present a regional plan on promoting a positive culture for a healthy lifestyle and stress on school programmes,” she added.

“It is important for us to continue promoting healthy eating habits and physical activity among children in the region. The prevalence of obesity and other nutrition-related diseases have seen a marked increase not only in the Middle East, but worldwide,” said Qadi Saeed Al Murooshid, Director General, Dubai Health Authority.

He said that an action plan on last year’s recommendations would also be announced at the Congress.

Health, education and social experts will discuss relevant and pressing issues related to children with a focus on raising public awareness on health concerns faced by young people in the UAE and Middle East and North Africa region. ‘

The theme for this year’s congress will focus on ‘Healthy Body, Healthy Mind’. ‘
The congress will also review current policies, support provision of better healthcare systems, help children to make healthy lifestyle changes and to ultimately develop a bill of rights for children to improve their overall quality of life. Source

Obesity causes infertility in women

2008-03-02T18:13:00.003+04:00

Obesity is a major cause for infertility among women in the country, say experts.
During a Press conference, Dr Firuza Parikh, Director of Reproductive Gynaecology at Zulekha Hospital, Sharjah, said that excessive hormones caused the Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome (PCOs) which leads to infertility, ovulation, menstrual and cosmetic problems.
“In women above 40 years, such conditions can also lead to cardiovascular illnesses and osteoporosis,” she said.
“Obese women do not ovulate and, in fact, produce more of a male hormone (testosterone) which raises male patterns in the body such as balding on the head but more hair on the face and other parts of the body,” she explained, adding that this could lead to difficulty in conceiving.

A combination of lifestyle modifications, exercise, cutting down on foods with high sugar content and ovulation-inducing agents may help abate the condition, explained the doctor.

“Women in the country are leading a sedentary lifestyle which they need to change immediately,” added the expert.

Recent advances in hormonal modulation and its significant benefits to women of different age groups were highlighted at a symposium hosted recently by Zulekha Healthcare Group.

More than 150 experts in gynaecology, infertility, urology, internal medicine and pathology attended the symposium.

In his presentation, Dr Gautam Chaudhuri said, “Studies have shown that hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women protects them from heart disease. Some studies, especially the Women’s Health Initiative Study conducted in the United States, have shown that the timing of the treatment is extremely vital, and benefits can be gained only if the treatment is started at the onset of menopause.”

However, it is paradoxical that while certain studies have shown hormone therapy to be protective, it is also proven to increase cardiovascular disease in other groups of women if the treatment is started in the later stages of menopause, said the doctor. Source

How can employers help with dislexia?

2008-03-01T22:28:00.003+04:00

“Dyslexia is not necessarily a problem with reading, writing and spelling. The perception of it as such is one of the biggest hurdles dyslexic people have to overcome. Dyslexia is an underlying cognitive inefficiency associated with information processing which can affect the development of literacy skills as well as dealing with numbers, organisation and general memory tasks. Dyslexic people do not learn in conventional ways. They can learn and work very well but sometimes need to learn differently,” says Rawan Hawamdeh, Occupational Therapist at the British Institute for Learning Development (BILD), Jumeirah as she speaks about Dyslexia at the workplace.

Ruwan completed her M.Sc in Occupational Therapy from the University of Jordan and was a volunteer in (KAFD) King Abdullah II Fund for Development, Amman – Jordan. She also worked as an Occupational Therapist at Faisal Bin Fahd`s Mother Center For Autism - FFM; Riyadh Kingdom of Saudi Arabia thereby giving therapeutic sessions for Autism Children. She established the Occupational Therapy department in the center and was responsible for giving workshops for the mothers of children who suffer from Autism. She represented Jordan from July 18th -30th 2005 at the Youth Exchange Program "Religions Dialogue" in Budapest and Sopron – Hungary/EU. She joined BILD in 2006 and soon carved a niche for herself at BILD.

How do people with symptoms of dyslexia become successful?
The answer to this question is “in the same way as anyone else.” They work hard and develop the skills they need in order to pursue a specific occupation. In particular they develop strategies to compensate for their areas of weakness. Competence in literacy skills is important but only as it relates to the demands of a job. Reading is a good example. Only in a few occupations is it necessary to be able to read aloud accurately and fluently. What is important in most jobs is being able to extract relevant information from text quickly and efficiently. In the work place many dyslexic people develop good memory and organisational strategies to such a high level that they perform better in these respects than non dyslexic people. Development of complementary skills such as the use of electronic calculators, spell checkers and personal organisers is especially important. Good keyboard skills enable dyslexic people to use word processors efficiently for written communication. The tape recorder, coupled perhaps with dictation and the services of an audio typist is a good alternative to attempting to take verbatim notes.

How can employers help?
Employers should put aside their prejudices and try to understand how dyslexia affects an individual employee. This should enable them to learn how to accommodate the dyslexic person’s area of weakness, in the same way as they provide opportunities for others to develop their skills and display their talents. If a dyslexic person for example is slow at reading, their supervisor could be asked to highlight important parts of training manuals and other documents. Where spelling and grammar present difficulties, documents prepared by a dyslexic person could be proof-read by a close colleague. Employers can make available a wide range of aids from simple calculators to word processors with grammar and spell check programmes.
Anyone who has some kind of difficulty usually has more strengths than weaknesses. It could be good practice, therefore to pair a dyslexic with a non dyslexic person. The former might be highly analytical and very good at coming up with good ideas, expressing these verbally and the latter better at putting them on paper.

Are there risks for employers?
The answer to this question is a categorical No. If an employer has tried to ensure that the qualifications, abilities and aptitudes are consistent with the demands of a specific job a dyslexic person with certain accommodations, should be able to carry out their duties as effectively as anyone else. Any additional costs incurred in providing appropriate support are easily justified as there can be advantages in employing dyslexic people.

What are the advantages in employing a dyslexic person?
The parent of dyslexic teenager concerned about the employment prospects for his son, said that if he were interviewing candidates for a position in his firm and he was down to a short list of five people, the dyslexic would be last on the list. It was suggested that the dyslexic should in fact be number one. Why? To get as far as the short list for this particular position a candidate would have needed to acquire good academic qualifications. They will have needed to be bright enough to have spent three years at university and gain an honours degree. They have therefore shown themselves to be hard working , good at learning, determined and thorough. They will have a good understanding of their strengths and weaknesses and will have developed both unconsciously and consciously, all kinds of strategies and skills which have enabled them to compensate. They will have in fact, developed qualities which should commend them to any employer. Added to this there is evidence to suggest that dyslexic people are or at least become, creative, particularly in areas such as problem solving. It is often the lateral thinker in the company who is responsible for that new idea which provides the edge over competitors.
(By Remediana Dias)

Obesity on the rise in UAE school children

2008-02-26T19:11:00.002+04:00

Smoking or tobacco use among school children in the UAE starts at an early age, while risk-taking behaviour of the youth have also reached alarming levels, according to the recently released Global School Health Survey (GSHS). The survey results were presented at the 8th two-day AGCC School Health meeting held in Dubai on February 26.

According to the survey carried out in the UAE from March 19, 2005 to April 30, 2005, and released earlier this year, “During the past 30 days, 9.3 per cent of students smoked cigarettes and 10.7 per cent used one other form of tobacco on one or more days. Boys were found to be significantly more likely than girl students to smoke or use tobacco in any form.”

Giving details, Dr Nasim Mohammed Ibrahim, Director, Primary Healthcare Care (PHC) Department at Ministry of Health office in Sharjah, said, “During the past 12 months, 31.9 per cent of the students were physically attacked once or more times. Overall, 43.2 per cent of the students were in a physical fight during the past 12 months while 20.8 per cent were bullied on one or more days during the past 30 days.”

She also said that 33.6 per cent of students surveyed were either overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. More alarming is that 38.8 per cent of the students spent three or more hours per day doing sitting activities during a typical or usual day. During the past seven days, only 19.5 per cent of the students were physically active daily for a total of at least 60 minutes per day.

A total of 15,790 students from 200 schools from four regions of the UAE responded to the questionnaire. Sixty-seven per cent of the students were in the age group of 13-15 years (Grades 7-10), while 89 per cent of those surveyed completed the questionnaire.

Dr Nasim said, “The survey has revealed that there are several dietary behaviours and sedentary lifestyle that have led to increasing rates of obesity. We also believe that these are caused due to wide socio-cultural differences in the society, which have weakened the family role and its protective nature. This has exposed students to an unfavourable environment outside home.”

She pointed out that the MoH recommends developing and implementing strategies based on the best available scientific research and evidence that are multi-sectoral, comprehensive and culturally appropriate. “We suggest that the action plan and policies should both be incorporated so as to address all major health behaviours,” she added.

The GSHS has been developed by the World Health Organisation and carried out in the UAE in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. It aims to provide accurate data on health behaviours and other factors among students to evaluate school health programmes.

Smoke-free schools
Dr Wedad Al Maidoor, Head of the National Committee on Smoking Cessation, MoH, said the UAE was contemplating implementation of the international initiative “Smoke free schools/universities programme” in the UAE.

“A particular law to ban smoking in schools is not feasible because schools are required to be smoke-free zones. Therefore, implementation of the ‘smoke-free’ programme is a suitable option.”

Meanwhile, in a merger, all school health services in the UAE will now be placed under the umbrella of the ministry’s Primary Healthcare Centres instead of the School Health Department, said a senior Ministry of Health official yesterday.

Dr Nasim Mohammed Ibrahim, Director of Primary Healthcare Care (PHC) Department at MoH, Sharjah, speaking on the sidelines of the 8th two-day AGCC School Health meeting held in Dubai yesterday said, “The PHCs will be responsible for issuing regulations on factors such as health education, diet of students, dental issues as well as all other kinds of services.”

She explained that the programme had been implemented in Ras Al Khaimah in August last year, while in Dubai and Sharjah it would be done soon. Source

Guess What Real Men Eat

2008-02-19T21:03:00.002+04:00

Real men don't eat meat and potatoes -- at least not only meat and potatoes. Now, they're also dining on fruit, vegetables and whole grains -- and enjoying them, too.
That's what I've been hearing from professional athletes who are leading the way. They've learned that eating smart not only helps their performance but also may lengthen their careers.

"It's a lifestyle thing," says the Washington Wizards' Brendan Haywood, who weighed 310 pounds in high school. The 7-foot center, who joined the Wizards seven years ago, now checks in at 265 pounds.

"I changed the way I eat," says Haywood, who has a fondness for chocolate cake, ice cream and Krispy Kreme doughnuts. "I was astonished at how many calories are in one Krispy Kreme doughnut. . . . You realize as you get older that . . . to keep a healthy lifestyle, you can't have french fries and cheeseburgers every day."

That's why Haywood and a number of other pro athletes, including teammates Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler, have hired personal chefs to assist them at the dining table. "Your body is your temple, so you want to keep it as fresh as possible," Butler says. "Eating right gives you an edge on your opponent."

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Ray King has learned that lesson, too. Concerned that extra pounds were throwing him off balance on the mound, he changed his habits during the offseason. Not only did King work out, he also stopped drinking soda and swapped greasy, fast-food burgers for salmon.

The result? Last week, King began spring training weighing 23 pounds less than he did last season. Now he "hardly has a gut," as MLB.com sportswriter Bill Ladson reported, marveling that King is "in the best shape of his life."

Such nutritional adjustments don't always come easy, even for highly motivated athletes whose livelihoods depend on their bodies. Leslie Bonci, director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, says she often assures male athletes that they don't need a hunk of meat on their plate for peak performance on or off the field.

Eating well "doesn't make you any less masculine," says Bonci, who also provides nutrition advice to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Pittsburgh Pirates and members of the U.S. Olympic team. "It may benefit you for years to come and enable you do to what you really want to do physically."

The surprise for many is how good healthful food can taste. The Pirates first added rice and beans to their menus when Dominican-born players requested them. The low-calorie, high-protein meals proved so popular that they are now standard fare. That move paved the way for other foods when the team opened Pirate City, its new training facility. Now vegetable kebabs, stir-fries, steamed vegetables and a salad bar with a wide range of greens are popular items, Bonci says.

Fruit salad and melon are also player favorites -- but whole fruit served in a bowl is not. "If it isn't cut up," Bonci says, "they are not going to eat it." So Bonci has the food service staff strategically position fresh cherries, melon slices and tempting vegetables at the entrance to the cafeteria line where athletes can grab them first after practice. "They're cool and tasty," she says.

Chef Gregory Love, who works full time for Butler, encouraged him to start with small diet adjustments. "I never ate breakfast," Butler says. "I was more of a lunch and big dinner kind of guy."

Now Butler begins the day with oatmeal, grits or ReddiEgg omelets -- "fake out" eggs as Love calls them, made from egg whites, which are rich in protein. "I sprinkle that with organic cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack," Love says. "That gives him energy."

Lunch is often soup and sandwiches -- either grilled chicken or lean organic burger -- on hearty multigrain buns. Butler's favorite soups are minestrone, loaded with garbanzo beans, tomatoes and zucchini, and chicken noodle, made with chicken breasts, celery, onions and carrots.

On the road, Butler often text messages Love for guidance in ordering from room service. He has been eating carefully since he was recently sidelined with a strained left hip flexor. "I'm trying to eat as light as possible to keep my weight the same," Butler says, adding that the effort has paid off. "Over the last two years, I've been an All-Star, so it's worked out."

Haywood's chef has helped him cut back on processed food, adding more organic chicken, beef, vegetables, fruit and whole grains. One of his favorite dinners is shrimp with saffron rice. Vegetable side dishes include broccoli, peas, green beans, collard greens, mustard greens and kale. "But he's not going into Brussels sprouts or asparagus," says chef Will Simpkin, who also introduced Haywood to orange roughy. "He loves it," Simpkin says of the fish. "It's not around all the time, but when it's in the market, I will get it for him."

Pro athletes who can't afford to hire their own chefs are also paying more attention to fueling their bodies. Bonci counsels minor-league baseball players and football practice squad members on tight budgets to skip the soda and Pop-Tarts. She encourages them to eat inexpensive, healthful and filling meals of burritos, beans and rice at Chipotle rather than fried fast food somewhere else.

Despite the trend toward healthier eating, few male athletes seem tempted to give up meat altogether. "Vegetarian?" Butler says. "No, it never crossed my mind."

He's not alone. At last week's congressional hearings on possible steroid use in baseball, members of Congress also grilled baseball player Roger Clemens on his eating habits.

"Have you ever been a vegetarian?" Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) asked Clemens.

"I have not," Clemens said.

"Have you ever been a vegan?

"I'm sorry?" Clemens said, sounding puzzled.

"A vegan?" Braley repeated.

Clemens responded: "I don't know what that is."

(by Sally Squires)

New emergency centre for heart attack victims

2008-02-18T21:05:00.000+04:00

The German Heart Centre Bremen in Dubai Healthcare City on Monday announced that it would soon open an emergency centre for heart attack and stroke cases in cooperation with City Hospital.
The centre would be fully operational by the summer this year.
“Currently, heart attack patients in Dubai are transported to hospitals which are built for other emergencies like trauma patients, but have no established pathways or technological infrastructure and personnel for internal medicine emergencies, such as heart attacks or strokes,” said Dr Klaus Kallmayer, chairman of the German Heart Centre Bremen.

“The transportation to and preliminary treatment carried out at such hospitals are a dangerous waste of time for patients, who should be immediately brought to a specialised and dedicated 24/7 interventional cardiovascular facility,” he remarked.

“The staff using a catheterisation laboratory and treating heart attack patients must be highly trained in this specialty and must have hands-on experience.

“Heart attack patients are unstable and a huge number of unforeseeable complications can occur. As a result, cardiologists with vast experience are needed to handle these extreme situations on a 24 hour basis.” Source

Premarital tests for all UAE

2008-02-17T19:17:00.000+04:00

The Health Ministry has ordered launch of premarital tests programme for all nationals and expatriates in the UAE, to meet health strategy as per Cabinet decision to implement premarital test regulations.

The medical exam and consultation programme will be provided through primary health care centres in Dubai, Sharjah, RAK, UAQ and Ajman at four stages in different areas.

Dr Moopens Group opens Medcentre in Abu Dhabi

2008-02-16T17:28:00.001+04:00

Dr Moopens Group has announced the inauguration of multispeciality polyclinic - Medcentre at Abu Dhabi.

Dr.Moopens Group has completed 20 years in the healthcare business in the Middle East. The group is planning to expand its services with an investment of about Dh500 million in GCC in the next five years.

The Medcentre at Abu Dhabi will cater to the day to day healthcare requirements of the residents. Source

Feeling low? You are not alone

2008-02-15T22:39:00.002+04:00

Depression, the common mental disorder that manifests in various forms such as moodiness, loss of interest or happiness, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep, loss of appetite, low energy and poor concentration, is estimated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to become the most serious health problem in the world for all ages and both sexes — towering over cancer and Aids by 2020.

Scientists too had come to a pessimistic conclusion saying that by 2020, nearly 50 per cent of the human population will be affected by depression.

Psychiatrists argue that the more complicated the life becomes the more stress people will have to cope with. They blamed both the society and individuals for the mounting stress that could eventually lead to depression, emphasising that both should play certain roles to reduce the severity of stress.

Women are urged to take more care as the existing estimates show that the depression affects the fair sex more than men in the ratio of 1:2.

Experts and even ordinary people believe that the routine patterns of life, high cost of living and lack of social interaction were the main reasons for stress. Underestimating one’s potential and capabilities, lack of physical exercises and proper planning for the future too contribute to this mental condition.

Zainab Amir, a UAE national, said: “Life is full of stress. Satisfying one’s self and also those we love itself is a big stress. Failure to chalk out and implement plans for the future and underestimating one’s potential could complicate matters.”

Zuhair Hamid, a Sudanese employee, opined: “The high cost of living people are reeling under these days, especially as the income is stagnant for most people, is the main cause of stress.”

Dr Tariq Darweesh, Consultant Psychiatrist at Shaikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) says depression is the price we pay for our lust for a luxurious and sophisticated life.

“Nowadays, mental health is overwhelmed by lots of stress posed by the complexity of life and our craving to have a luxurious life. There are also hidden stress factors. For instance, a working mother could be worried all the time after leaving behind her kids with a maid. These hidden factors create tension and could develop into depression,” said Dr Darweesh.

“The more we strive to cope with modernity, the more stress we are going to incur.

“Women are more exposed to stress than men due to biological differences, post-menopausal complications and other social reasons which put more restrictions on them than men,” he said.

“All people feel low at times because of particular circumstances. However, that is not a mental disorder because it does not usually continue or have negative impact on our social and occupational life,” clarified Dr Darweesh.

So, what are the possible remedies?

“The society should not get swept away by modernity to the extent where human health is endangered. Individuals should realise, on the other hand, their potential and capabilities and avoid blindly running after goals that are out of their reach.

“Exercising and taking a respite from work are fundamental to the well-being of people,” he said.

DEPRESSION CAN BREAK YOUR HEART

ABU DHABI — Planning to give your partner a bouquet of roses or a love letter or a box of chocolates this Valentine’s Day? Well, a far valuable gift could be a vow to keep your partner happy since depression can break his/her heart more than other factors.

A study conducted showed that people who suffer from depression have double the risk to get coronary heart diseases compared to people who are not depressed, according to Dr Wael Al Mahmeed, Consultant Cardiologist at Shaikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC).

“The international study known as ‘Inter-heart study’, which covered 52 countries including the UAE, showed that people who have depression have twice the risk to get heart attack compared to someone who is not depressed,” Dr Muhammeed told Khaleej Times yesterday.

The case-control study, which was conducted between 1996 and 2005 and published in the UK medical journal, Lancet, covered 25,000 people, including 11,000 who have had heart attacks and 15,000 healthy people.

“From the UAE, 700 patients were enrolled in the study. Findings showed that the 11,000 people who have had heart attacks were suffering from depression compared to the 15,000 healthy people who have had no history of depression,” he said.

“The study made it clear that depression and heart diseases are inter-related. It also showed that depression is one of the risk factors for heart diseases,” he said, noting that eight out of the 10 top diseases that caused disability were psychiatric illnesses.

On the tips to avert physical complications of mental health, Dr Muhammeed advised: “Don’t fall into bad habits like too much eating, smoking or drinking thinking that this way you could relieve your depression. On the contrary, you will be more at risk of getting heart diseases.”

People must try to find good ways to reduce stress such as relaxation, exercise, spending time with loved ones and friends, and try their best not to get fully involved in the fast pace of life, he said. Source

Dislexia Friendly School Policy

2008-02-04T11:51:00.000+04:00

Dr. Chris Reynolds is the author of the book “Global Logic”. He founded St, Andrews International School with the International Primary Curriculum, commonly known as IPC-UK. In an interview to Remediana Dias, he describes the IPC curriculum and how dyslexia friendly school policy is adopted by the school.

Q.: Could you tell us about yourself?
A.: I founded the school along with my wife Sheena who is the Director of Learning Development at the school. While studying my Masters degree and Ph.D at Claremont University in UK, I was strongly influenced by Peter Drucker and Alvin Toffler. My study of law, ethics and government combined with several prominent management positions provided me with an objective foundation to start a new venture in the Middle East. That’s how I started the school with an IPC curriculum which has been developed by the education management company called Fieldwork Education Services for the Shell Refinery schools across the world. There are 300 schools using this curriculum including 150 in England and also the Emirates International School in Dubai.

Q.: What sets the IPC curriculum apart from others?
A.: The IPC is focused on developing a child’s learning ability and skill. Like the National Curriculum and the International Baccalaureate, it sets ‘milestones’—skill achievement levels for the children to reach throughout the education journey.

The IPC is based on an understanding of how the brain learns and allows us to motivate children toward achieving academic skills and their personal goals. It also allows us to develop their talents so that the children can increase their ability for intellectual reasoning. It focuses on how children learn and is based on the most recent knowledge of how learning takes place. The IPC is taught in units of work and seeks to inspire pupils to understand and improve their own learning.

The IPC presents the classroom as a ‘learning environment’ and sees the pupils as active learners. The learning process seeks to develop knowledge, understanding, skill and reasoning abilities.

Q.: What dyslexic-designed literacy programme does your school use?
A.: Full IPC Curriculum for English, differentiated to meet the needs of the dyslexic pupil, Wide range of reading schemes and materials. Toe-by-Toe, a multi-sensory, structured reading programme; Word Wasp; Starspell; Norrie; ARROW; Spelling Made Easy; Hatcher’s Phonological Awareness; Fernald Cards; Kingston (based on Hickey) Teaching Reading Through Spelling; Wellington Square; Fuzz-Buzz; Alpha to Omega; Complete Speller; Look Say Cover Write Check techniques – just to name a few.

Q.: How many dyslexic students does your school support at the moment?
A.: 50. We were established in 2000 to help children with dyslexia and associated learning difficulties. Ours is a whole-school approach.

Q.: How do you differentiate the support for the dyslexic children in the classroom?
A.: Children are grouped in English and Maths according to results from a Baseline Assessment, psychologist’s report and teacher assessments. Pupils have an Individual Education Plan and targets are set for speaking & listening, reading, writing, mathematics and PSHE. English groups are small and are supported by a qualified teacher who also holds specialist qualifications for teaching pupils with dyslexia. In addition, these groups are supported by a qualified classroom assistant so opportunities for tasks to be differentiated and individual are prevalent.

Q.: How do you monitor the dyslexic child’s success in their learning?
A.: We use summative and formative approaches. As above – Baseline Assessment at the start of the year using standardised, norm-referenced tests, re-tested in June to establish a coefficient and value added. Internal use of IPC Curriculum Assessment materials are very useful. Less formal assessments take place, sometimes weekly or after a particular topic or module has been taught. However, monitoring of course takes place after each piece of work is submitted. We adhere to a whole-school marking policy in which the marking should ‘enhance the pupil’s learning’. Pupils are made aware of error(s) made; a correct response is given; guidance on how to improve; a selected focus on particular errors or difficulties – with very sensitive feedback. Marking is carried out in green ink and effort and achievement in class is well rewarded. Work marked in this way for assessment and monitoring progress determines IPC levels and progress, informs future teaching and planning and helps determine future learning targets for the pupil’s IEP.

Q.: What study skills approaches do you use to help your dyslexic learners?
A.: Difference between close/scan/skim reading is demonstrated and modeled; note taking; use of highlighter; mind maps; trigger words; subject-specific key vocabulary; story/planning boards; note taking in pictorial form/simple word abbreviations; CLOSE procedures – many more.

Q.: What strategies do you apply to help other students with specific learning difficulties? (ADHD, NVLD, Aspergers)
A.: On-site support and guidance from very highly qualified Speech & Language and Occupational Therapists. Our OTs are very knowledgeable in Sensory Integration Therapy and have experience of working with pupils with ADHD and NVLD as well as pupils on the Autistic Spectrum. Routines are adhered to as much as possible with plenty of warning of change for those pupils with mild Asperger’s). Pupils with ADHD often take Ritalin or an equivalent form of medication. Their activities are often changed more frequently to assist focus, allowed to move from their seat, some have ‘squeeze balls’ etc. We adopt a calm, non-confrontational approach where every child matters. Pupils are listened to, classroom and school rules are carefully explained and a common, consistent approach is made by all staff.

Q.: Does the school apply counseling approaches in the school to help the dyslexic learner?
A.: Yes. We have well-qualified counselors who meet individual pupils, we run a social skills/communications group and all pupils have a lesson or lessons with their Tutor. We operate an open-door policy and pupils are aware they can approach any adult with worries or concerns and they feel assured that this will be acted upon.

Q.: What positive behaviour approaches do you apply to support children with oppositional defiance?
A.: We identify possible ‘triggers’ as quickly as possible: antecedents/behaviour/consequences. Pupils are set boundaries and targets, staff are non-confrontational, targets are small, achievable and realistic. Sanctions are fair and these are explained to the individual concerned. Pupils who present this behaviour (although they are rare in this school) are also given an IBP (Individual Behaviour Plan). Also used are time-out strategies, a chosen or specific place to sit quietly and reflect, return when calm, etc.

Q.: What ITC software do you use to support your dyslexic learners?
A.: Interactive whiteboards are installed in all maths, science, junior classrooms and, of course, ICT suites. There are two ICT suites, each equipped with 14 computers; in addition there are at least two in every classroom. All are networked, Internet Linked (filtered). There is a HUGE range and much too long to list here. Programs are available for maths, English, science, humanities and so on - Microsoft Office, Learn to Type, Starspell, multi-media programs, data logging and so on. We also have voice activated and speech recognition computers.

Q.: What diagnostic approaches do you use to identify children with specific learning difficulties?
A.: Internal approaches include the use of the Aston Index, Bangor Materials and the Nicholson/Fawcett diagnostic tests. We also look at short term and working memory, sequencing skills, phonological awareness and miscue analysis techniques to determine reading strategies. These are a few examples of good practice here.

Q.: Have you designed specific teaching tools to support your dyslexic learners? (Games etc.)
A.: In the junior classrooms numbers, ordered 1-20, and alphabet are on tables; number and table squares are made by the pupils; visual or pictorial timetable; cursive hand alphabet is in every English classroom; teacher-made spelling and reading games and flashcards, etc.

Q.: How do you develop written skills?
A.: By listening to quality writing – stories, poems; use of modeling techniques, teacher demonstrations, collaborative group writing, storyboards.

Q.: What controlled reading text do you use?

A.: Reading is individual, group- or class-based. Individual reading schemes, dependent on reading age, include- Fuzz Buzz, Oxford Reading Tree, Flightpath to Reading, Longmans Reading World, too many to list. Group or class reading could be selected texts or passages, plays, stories or poems – often abridged classics or materials recommended by the QCA or NLS.

By Remediana Rodrigues e Dias
Special Educator,
British Institute for Learning Development,
Jumeirah, Dubai, U.A.E.

Parents allowed to assist children during surgery

2008-01-28T14:10:00.000+04:00

Parents of children undergoing any kind of surgery at Dubai Hospital will be allowed to accompany their children to the operation theatre, albeit with certain precautions.

For the first time in the UAE, a government hospital has officially allowed parents to accompany their children to the operation theatres.

Earlier, in case a parent wanted to be with their child, a special permission was required from the hospital head.

“This step has been taken so as to help children overcome the fear of the procedure and feel safe,” explained Dr Hussain Abdul Rahman, acting director of Dubai Hospital.

He said that this step was significant prior to the surgery as it helped in the overall recovery of the child post-operation.

He said parents would be allowed to remain with the children during the anaesthesia procedures and until the child becomes unconscious.

“We have been allowing this to happen sporadically, but this is the first time that parents would not be required to take special permission,” he said. Source

Creating Dyslexia friendly schools in the UAE

2008-01-27T17:54:00.000+04:00

Worldwide an estimated 9 million people are dyslexic. In the UAE there are a sufficient number of children who are diagnosed to be severely dyslexic and many with mild or moderate symptoms of dyslexia remain undiagnosed.

The word 'dyslexia' is of Greek origin, meaning difficulty with words or language. It includes difficulty in learning to read and write--particularly in spelling correctly and expressing thoughts on paper. It could also involve directional problems like distinguishing between right and left and following instructions. The symptoms are diverse and do not afflict an individual simultaneously. However contrary to popular belief, dyslexia is not synonymous with poor intelligence, although an individual with low intelligence can also be dyslexic. The most distinctive feature of dyslexia is that a child's reading and writing skills are not commensurate with her all-round intellectual ability.

Dyslexia is life-long but its effects can be minimized by targeted literacy intervention, technological support and adaptations to ways of working and learning. Dyslexia varies in severity and often occurs alongside other specific learning difficulties, such as dyspraxia or attention deficit disorder, resulting in variation in the degree and nature of an individual's strengths and weaknesses.

Reassuringly quite a few famous high achievers were diagnosed as dyslexic: Albert Einstein, Tom Cruise, Richard Branson, Duncan Goodhew, Whoopi Goldberg, John Lennon, Steven Spielberg, Cher, Agatha Christie, Walt Disney, Jamie Oliver, which goes to show that dyslexia is not a disabling handicap.

The affliction tends to run in families with the latest scientific research showing that dyslexia is a genetic, neurological condition. But along with its difficulties can be found real strengths, including problem-soling skills and enhanced creativity. Dyslexia cannot be cured but it needn't be a life sentence. With appropriate support many difficulties can be overcome, allowing strengths to shine through. Therefore dyslexia friendly schools will go a long way in helping children with learning difficulties grow up into confident adults.

Most schools in UAE have the resources to be dyslexia friendly. Schools here demand excellence from their students and support them by linking new ideas with traditional values. The schools' culture is 'zero tolerance' of failure. But this is not an aggressive response; it’s more of tough love. There is high awareness among teachers of what each student should be able to achieve, together with arrange of response strategies when targets are not met. The staff is proactively led to demand excellence, and take action when targets are not met. The ethos is: if children don’t learn the way we teach, we will teach them the way they learn."

Most schools in UAE engage in teacher delivered diagnositc assessment when good practice in the classroom fails to secure progress, rather than rely on referrals to the school counsellor. Therefore the delay between identification and response is minimal, and results in action in the classroom in the first instance. Many perceived learning difficulties respond well to classroom based fine-tuning delivered by dyslexia-aware class and subject teachers.

Schools in the UAE recognize the importance of emotional intelligence. by virtue of being inclusive institutions they recognize that "there is nothing so unfair as the equal treatment of unequal people". They are typified by a desire and determination to teach the child, rather than just cover the curriculum. Consequently they have the confidence to interpret and mould the curriculum to the needs of certain children and to justify their actions when challenged.

For instance St. Andrew's International School which serves the area of Jumeirah has put strategies in place to achieve the highest level of support for dyslexic students and their parents within the school environment. The entire school team displays excellent knowledge of all stages of the developmental process of children and can identify learning difficulties in early stages. The screening process within the school is a reliable indicator of dyslexic problems. Where necessary, this process is followed up by a collaborative assessment procedure, which involves inputs from the class teacher, the school counsellor as well as psychological services. The use of individual education plans aids the process of monitoring students within each class. Moreover teachers work in partnership with parents, to ensure they are informed at all levels of the identification of needs process.

In sum, the support for dyslexic students within St. Andrew's International School is of a very high standard. The use of multi-sensory techniques of teaching is routine and the benefit of computers is provided to all students. Most importantly, the school offers a warm and friendly environment--one in which students feel they are valued and will eventually be able to realize their full potential.

By Remediana Rodrigues e Dias
Special Educator,
British Institute for Learning Development,
Jumeirah, Dubai.

The cafes and coffee culture

2008-01-21T06:54:00.000+04:00

The coffee and cafés culture is continuing to take a hold in the UAE – with international chains predicting significant growth and expansion in the coming months. Industry experts are saying that the country’s growing economy and diverse cultural makeup have been crucial in creating a secure market for one of the world’s most popular commodities. And as the culture takes hold, the UAE also has become a hub for the import and re-export of coffee – raw, roasted and ground.
Simon Holroyd, Costa’s general manager for the UAE and Pakistan, said the United Kingdom-based coffee chain had grown quickly since it opened its first shop in Dubai in 1999.
“Costa was looking to expand its brand into overseas markets so the partnership was developed as a franchise arrangement. At that time we were Costa’s first overseas franchise partner. Now Costa International has franchise partners all over the world and exposure in 15 countries,” he said.

From one store, Costa has increased its portfolio to 46 shops with plans in place to double the size of its holdings across the Emirates within the next 24 months.

“We have every intention of stepping up our development programme. It is difficult to put a number to our expansion plans, but it is safe to say we are many years away from market saturation. Wherever there are opportunities for us to take our brand to the consumers in the UAE, we will do so providing it is commercially viable,” said Holroyd.

American brand Dunkin’ Donuts – which arrived in the UAE in 1997 – has 45 stores in the UAE. Like its competitors, it has positioned itself to appeal to coffee-lovers by offering a full menu of caffeinated choices.

David Rodgers, Dunkin’ Donuts’ general manager, said: “We plan to have an additional five stores by the middle of this year and another 10 before the year ends. We are opening more outlets in Kuwait, where we currently have 11 shops, and are starting operations in Oman within the year.”

Rodgers said the country had attracted major players in the coffee retail business, which has kept Dunkin’ Donuts competing to come up with drinks that will tempt customers. “One of the significant factors in this part of the world is the heat. We have tailored our product range to incorporate more cold beverages such as the Original Iced Blend coffee, which is ideal during summer,” he said.

Mohi-Din Binhendi, President and CEO of the Binhendi Group, which is the franchise-holder for Second Cup, believes another factor that has contributed to the success of the business is the fact that coffee has taken over the country’s social scene. “The UAE has very dynamic cities and every city has its chains of gourmet coffee shops where people socialise. It’s a culture that is growing by the day,” he said.

Second Cup, which began in Canada, has opened 11 stores since it launched in the Emirates in 2003. Binhendi said he was planning to set up around 30 more shops within the next four years.

“Our strategy involves expanding throughout the Middle East – to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt and Syria,” he said.

Meanwhile, Australia-based Döme’s success story has been slow but steady. It has added an average of one store per year to its chain.

“The coffee franchise and retail industry here was just starting to take off when we entered the market in 1998. Because of the region’s strong coffee culture, the market has grown on an annual basis,” said Stephen Walsh, assistant general manager of Döme.

Currently Döme has eight outlets in Dubai and two in Abu Dhabi. Walsh, however, said the market is ripe for expansion and the firm plans to open four shops this year.

“But depending on the availability of space, we could add another two coffee shops to our chain. We’re also looking at opening stores in other GCC countries, but Dubai will always be our main base,” he said.

Starbucks declined to provide information about its expansion plans when contacted by Emirates Business. The US chain began its UAE operations in 2000 and had 27 outlets in 2004. Current figures are unavailable.

Meanwhile, in a statistical report released by the International Coffee Organisation in July 2007, the UAE was named the largest re-exporter in the GCC of green (raw) coffee at 1.3 million kg, soluble (instant) coffee at 1.3m kg and roasted coffee at 619,800kg in 2005. The Emirates was also the region’s largest importer of roasted and soluble coffee beans at 13.1m kg.

Saudi Arabia led in the GCC with green coffee bean imports at 28.6m kg in 2005. The UAE had an average rate of 50 per cent re-exportation for roasted beans, but the local market retained almost 80 per cent of all imported green and soluble coffee.

Among the six Gulf states, Kuwait was ranked second with a re-exported volume of 2.2m kg of beans between 2001 and 2005 – about 18 per cent of the Emirates’ total. Bahrain’s coffee re-export industry remained virtually negligible with just over 60,000kg of coffee re-exported over five years, according to the ICO report.

However, the ICO said the region’s import and re-export of soluble coffee beans has been increasing since 2001 – particularly in the UAE – while the locally retained average ratio remained at 87 per cent in the past four years. But roasted coffee is the UAE’s largest re-export commodity with a 50 per cent average of retained roasted coffee, despite being the least imported.

The UAE ranked 15th on the ICO list of the largest re-exporting nations. The US is the world’s largest importer at 120m kg of beans per month (as much as the UAE imports in eight years) while Germany ranks as the number one re-exporter.

Despite the Emirates’ changing demographics, the coffee retail and franchise industry remains confident the beverage will continue to have a following. Holroyd said: “It is difficult to place a monetary value on the industry. However, coffee retailing is a growing market and with the evolution of coffee shops and the different ways of reaching out to customers, it is definitely expected to grow.”

Export trends

Production and export trends in the global coffee industry in the past three years, as recorded by the International Coffee Organisation (ICO), defy the inversely proportional supply-and-demand and price-and-demand laws of economics.

Robusta coffee – which comprises 100 per cent of Vietnam’s annual crop but only seven per cent of Brazil’s and none of Colombia’s – has seen a rapid price surge unlike any of Arabica’s or its own over the last 20 years. This was because the price per kilogram soared by 35 per cent in 2006 and then by a further approximately 30 per cent in 2007.

But despite Arabica price increases early in 2005 and the belated Robusta surge, the three largest coffee producers – Brazil, Vietnam and Colombia – have recorded increasing export rates since 2005.

Brazil produced more than 2.54 billion kg of coffee beans in 2006, easily making it the highest volume producer of coffee in the world.

In fact, this number was nearly triple that of the second placed producer, Vietnam.

Coffee through the ages

1,000: Coffee can be traced to the ninth century, when the bean was first discovered in the highlands of Ethiopia, by a sheep herder named Kaldi, according to one legend

1,400: From eastern Africa, coffee spread to Egypt and Yemen before it reached the rest of the Middle East, Persia, Turkey, and northern Africa

1,500: By the middle of the 16th century, coffee had begun to spread outside the region. Thriving trade between Venice and North Africa and the Middle East brought coffee to Italy, and from there it was introduced to the rest of Europe. Coffee became more widely accepted after it was deemed a Christian beverage in 1600, despite appeals to ban the “Muslim drink”

1,600: When coffee reached North America, it was not as successful as it had been in Europe until the US War of Independence, when the demand for coffee increased

2,000: Americans are the number one coffee consumers in the world. The US imports beans at an average rate of two million 60kg bags a month.Source

Hope for women with infertility problems in UAE

2008-01-20T08:10:00.000+04:00

Women with infertility problems will now be able to take advantage of newer methods of treatment being offered by the Dubai Gynaecology and Fertility Centre.
Dr Husnia Gargash, consultant gynaecologist and director of the centre, said from February 1, women will be able to store their ‘eggs’ for reproduction purposes at a later stage.

“This is the first time that any centre in the region will be providing such a service. We are offering facilities to women to freeze their eggs for a maximum of five years,” she added.

Dr Husnia explained that similar services were being offered only in Spain.

“This is regarded as the latest in the fertility sciences with a 90 per cent chance of success,” she said. “Until now, we could not freeze eggs, and if we did, they did not give good results.”

Explaining the benefits of freezing eggs for later use, Dr Husnia said, “With women who are over the age of 40 and still want to conceive, naturally, it would be difficult for them. But with this facility, they can easily use their stored eggs and increase the chances of fertility by 30 per cent.”

The stored eggs are kept in a solution in special containers for up to five years.

Dr Husnia also said that the method was beneficial for women whose chances of getting pregnant were low due to several reasons.

“Age is the most important factor if women are unable to conceive. This treatment also benefits women who are undergoing chemotherapy or other treatments in which there is a chance of eggs being destroyed,” she said.

“This treatment also reduces the chances of babies developing congenital defects as the mother’s eggs are stored while she is young,” said Dr Husnia.

She explained that the stored eggs are re-implanted in the mother’s body using the IVF treatment.

“Our laboratory is fully equipped for all this treatment. However, more staff is undergoing training to carry out the procedure safely,” she added.

Referring to an ongoing debate regarding issuance of a ‘fatwa’ issued by the Judiciary Department in Abu Dhabi and the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities in Dubai that prohibits freezing of embryos, Dr Husnia commented, “This is a debate going on for years. Many Islamic countries are allowing the freezing of embryos for medical purposes. Since the debate is still going on, our services will not be affected.”

Commenting on the issue, Minister of Health Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qutami said, “We are ready to hold discussions with all the bodies concerned to reach a unanimous and conclusive opinion. The Federal National Council gave the nod in May last year to a federal law which permits and licences fertility centres all over the country.”

“However, a ‘fatwa’ was sought on the validity and legality of freezing and preserving the embryos derived from a husband’s sperm and his wife’s egg to be used later. Six months later, a fatwa was issued by the Judiciary Department in Abu Dhabi prohibiting such freezing on the ground of a possibility of mixing of kinship.”. Source

Local organic produce to arrirve in market shortly

2008-01-18T23:30:00.000+04:00

Locally produced organic products will soon be available in the UAE market with organic agricultural farms in the emirate of Abu Dhabi growing mostly fresh vegetables.

The project was initiated and developed by Al Qudra Agriculture, a division of Al Qudra Holding.

According to Dr. Abdulaziz Al Harbi, consultant and board member of Al Qudra Holding, the first organic crops will include a few varieties of green salad, cucumber, tomatoes and sweet pepper, which will be available in the market this summer.

“Right now, we are looking to get the international quality certificates, like Ecocert or Globalgap, which will recognise the organic quality of our products worldwide,” said Dr Al Harbi. Once the products are certified as organic, they may be labelled and sold, either locally or exported.

Unlike ordinary foods, which are grown using various forms of chemicals such as fertilisers, pesticides and even hormones and form the bulk of food items available in the market or unlike genetically modified foods, which in the UAE do not require labelling, organic products are free of any chemicals.

Since it takes more manpower and generally more care to grow organic foods, they are usually more expensive.

Dr Al Harbi is convinced, though, that these will become popular here, simply because they are healthier and tastier. “There is a big price gap between local products and overseas imports and this is where we will fit in,” he said, explaining that Al Qudra organic vegetables will be more expensive than ordinary local products, but cheaper than international ones, while the quality will be higher.

Al Qudra Agriculture is growing its organic crops in the Al Shwaib area near Al Ain. “We have bought the latest technology for production, using glass greenhouses, rather than plastic, which offer better control of the environment,” Al Harbi stated.

Engineer Mohammed Al Rasheed, Vice-Chairman of Al Qudra Agriculture, added that the first step is to create awareness and explain to the public what is organic food and why is it better than ordinary products. “We will soon launch a campaign of educating the consumer about organic fruit and vegetables,” he pointed out.

UAE Lack of Rheumatoid Arthritis Specialist Results in Delayed Diagnosis

2008-01-16T23:16:00.000+04:00

In a recent study published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, a leading European journal, as well as Clinical Rheumatology, doctors from the Dubai Bone & Joint Center (DBAJ) showed that patients in the UAE had a lag time of nearly one year in detection of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and another 9 months before they were started on the correct treatment.

"There are many reasons for rheumatoid arthritis delay in diagnosis in the UAE, and all of them need to be addressed to deliver better quality of life for sufferers in the Emirates," stated Dr. Humeira Badsha, Specialist Rheumatologist at DBAJ and lead author of the study.

"A key factor is an insufficient numbers of rheumatologists practicing in the UAE. The World Health Organization recommends 1 rheumatologist for every 100,000 members of the population. Here in the UAE, there is a definite shortage of trained rheumatologists." The study was conducted on 100 patients with an average age of 42.2 The UAE's diverse background was evident when studying the racial background of each patient. Of those examined, 38p percent were of Arab descent, 36 percent were of Indian descent and 26 percent were of Caucasian or other nationality. With the wide range of ethnic backgrounds taken into consideration, the study showed that there are no racial differences in disease characteristics with a majority of patients having very active disease, delayed diagnosis and not appropriately treated with disease modifying drugs. (WAM)

World News For The Growing Community

2008-01-10T22:20:00.000+04:00

There is a tidal wave of aging population that is flooding many countries, including China, Japan, U.K., USA and India. More and more middle-aged men and women are joining the crowded world of the retired, causing economic burden on nations which have social welfare as state responsibility.

Millions exposed to information technology, Internet, world wide web and social networking in the last decade have joined the masses who retired from full time commercial activity in recent years.

This class seeks to keep abreast on everyday happenings in the seniors world. It trawls the net for everyday updates on hundreds of topics that affect the life of the aged: retirement benefits, investment avenues, economic policies that affect their future, health issues, social problems like elder abuse and serious crimes against the elderly.

This segment enjoys learning about senior celebrities, their achievements and first-hand accounts of sheer grit and endeavour that bring them recognition in late life.

In this background, a Mumbai, India-based reporter-editor-publisher who opted to retire from commercial communications in the year 2001 on reaching the age of 65, began looking closely at issues influencing life of seniors and examining areas where he could use his knowledge, skills and experience to pay back to society for opportunities he had had in his own life.

Four years after suspending profit-oriented journalistic activities and frequent free-wheeling among the elderly, he zeroed in on idea of a journal that would target to become a single-point source of news and features covering seniors everywhere.

With no funds to invest in a fresh venture, this man began by browsing the internet for news reports and features on seniors. In the year 2005 he began uploading every bit he was collecting on a no-cost, no fees site offered by Google to bloggers, Blogspot.

SENIORS WORLD CHRONICLE thus became his post-retirement activity.

SENIORS WORLD CHRONICLE is a daily digest of published reports on all topics relevant to Seniors. The purpose is to chronicle for a wider readership by seniors and make news and features available to everyone interested in the Seniors World. It is a free-access, no registration required site.

All news and features remain copyright material of original newspapers and organizations which first published the news or features. Each story is credited, and in many cases, a ready link is provided on SENIORS WORLD CHRONICLE to the source of the news or feature. By end of 2007, SENIORS WORLD CHRONICLE had already published some 2300 reports.

SENIORS WORLD CHRONICLE is hosted by blogspot.com and the address is:
http://seniors-world-chronicle.blogspot.com/

However, it is not a blog in the normal sense of the word. It does not seek or publish readers comments, it has no editorials by the editor. It is a digest of material already published. Authenticity of origin is provided with mention of the source, and when possible, a link to the
origin of the news or feature.

The idea behind using blogspot.com is simple: Wide exposure, no website hosting costs and retaining the not-for-profit nature of the venture.

SENIORS WORLD CHRONICLE fiercely adheres to its raison d'etre as a service-oriented activity and that would remain intact, Ravissant asserted in Mumbai on January 10, 2008.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Ravissant
Editor SENIORS WORLD CHRONICLE
http://seniors-world-chronicle.blogspot.com/
E-mail: ravissanta@gmail.com

Dealing with Menopause

2008-01-02T20:40:00.000+04:00

Menopause simply means the end of menstruation and is a natural part of aging in every woman's life. It generally occurs anytime between the ages of 40 and 60 years. As you go trough menopause, you may experience various symptoms that range from mood swings, hot flushes, sweating, headaches, vaginal dryness, decreased sex drive, heart pal-pitations and osteoporosis. We wont to give you an insight on the lifestyle steps to manage menopause:

Eat smart and make a healthy choice by reading the package label information.
Calcium is important for you. Get your daily intake from dairy products, broccoli, legumes and fish like sardines and tinned salmon.
Include a lot of fibre rich food in your diet like cereals, pasta, rice and whole grain breads.
Eat at least 3-5 servings of vegetables and 2-4 servings of fruits daily.
Increase your iron intake. Iron can be found in eggs, poultry, fish, lean red meat, leafy green vegetables and nuts.
Keep yourself well hydrated. Drink plenty of water.
Maintain a healthy weight. Reduce foods high in fat, especially saturated fats that raise cholesterol and increase the risk of heart diseases. Saturated fats are found in whole milk, ice cream, fatty meats and cheese. Also limit your intake of transfats, found in baked items, margarine and vegetable oils.
Be careful in the use of sugar and salt in your diet.
Avoid Alcohol
Relax. Stress solves nothing.

Bin Sina Pharmacy now open in Dubai Health Care City

2008-01-02T20:25:00.000+04:00

Bin Sina Pharmacy has now opened a branch at the prestigious Dubai Healthcare City ( DHCC) bringing you new technology in selling medicine and non-medicine items. The pharmacy will offer you a wide range of products from electrical beauty, health care, products for men, and baby care. We have introduced a Colour Coded method of high-lighting the merchandise at the pharmacy, making shopping more convenient for the customer.

Following the American guidelines for dispensing in a retail pharmacy, the new dispensary counter is divided into a number of work stations. Each one contains a drop-off and a pick-up point for dispensing services. The unique setup is supported by a new software system "Patient Medication Record" and medication labeling.
The system will open a file for each customer and keep his record in all Bin Sina pharmacies for 5 years and will allow us to check the drug - drug interaction, allergies, duplication and management of diseases and inform the doctor of any complications. The information will always be treated confidentially and will not be released to any agency unless there is written approval from the patient.

Do You Think Your Child Fulfilling His or Her Potential?

2008-01-02T18:48:00.000+04:00

Come And Listen To Dr. Thomas E. Brown, The # 1 Authority On Attention Deficit Disorders And High IQs.

In Dubai On January 5, 2008, 7 to 9 PM. Call +971 4 429 8498

Biographical Summary for Thomas E. Brown, Ph.D.
Dr. Brown is a clinical psychologist who received his Ph.D. from Yale University and maintains a private practice in Hamden, CT. specializing in assessment and treatment of high-IQ children, adolescents and adults with ADD and related problems. He is an Asst. Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine and is Associate Director of the Yale Clinic for Attention and Related Disorders.

Dr. Brown has presented papers, workshops and symposia at nationalmeetings of the American Academy of Pediatrics, AmericanPsychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, AmericanAcademy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, National Association ofSchool Psychologists, American College of Nurse Practitioners,International Neuropsychological Society, the National AttentionDeficit Disorder Association and CHADD (Children and Adults withADHD). In response to invitations, Dr. Brown has given lectures, workshopsor grand rounds at hospitals, medical schools, colleges anduniversities, independent schools, public school systems, and atadvocacy, business and professional groups throughout the UnitedStates. He has also presented workshops at international meetings ofprofessionals in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada,China, Costa Rica, Denmark, England, Finland, Germany, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Venezuela. For his research and teaching about ADHD Dr. Brown received an awardof honor by the National Attention Deficit Disorder Assn. He has beeninducted into the CHADD Hall of Fame for outstanding contributions toresearch and professional education about ADHD in children andadults. Dr. Brown's research interests and publications include assessmentand treatment of ADD, especially in persons with high IQ; executivefunction and memory impairments in ADD; overlap of ADD and learningdisorders, use of combined medications for ADD co morbidities, and problems of sleep and awakening in ADD. He has served on the Professional Advisory Board for national CHADD and for the National Attention Deficit Disorder Association. He haspublished articles in professional journals and is author of the Brown Attention Deficit Disorder Scales for Children, Adolescents and Adults published by PsychCorp. He is editor of "Attention Deficit Disorders and Co morbidities in Children", Adolescents and Adults, amajor text and reference work published by American Psychiatric Pressand also published by Masson in Spanish as Transtornos por deficit deatencion y comorbilidades en ninos, adolescents y adultos.His new book, Attention Deficit Disorder: The Unfocused Mind in Children and Adults was published by Yale University Press inSeptember, 2005.

Campaign against hypertension

2007-12-25T16:50:00.000+04:00

The Regional Alliance for Hypertension Awareness (RAHA) recently launched a national hypertension awareness campaign, ‘The Silent Killer — Know your Number’, which focuses on decreasing the chances of heart attacks and strokes in the country caused by hypertension.

The campaign was organised as a response to the majority of people, especially women, who are unaware of their “numbers” which stand for their low/high blood pressure levels.

The launch event held in Sharjah Ladies Club was led by consultant physician and gastroenterologist Dr Suleiman Nayal of the Dubai Polyclinic.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), nearly one billion people suffer from high blood pressure in the world.
“That means one in four people suffer from hypertension. It is the leading cause of heart attacks and strokes in the UAE. Despite the alarming rate of prevalence of hypertension in the UAE, many patients put themselves at risk of a heart attack or stroke and do not even know it. A person can feel okay one day, and then suddenly have a heart attack. That would be the first time he/she would learn she is suffering from hypertension,” said Dr Nayal.
A study carried out by the Jikei University School of Medicine in Japan and published this year revealed that the majority of heart attacks and strokes are preventable.

The study tested 3,081 people over a three-year period and showed that cardiovascular incidences could be brought down significantly if hypertension is kept under control.

The study raised medical concern internationally, as hypertension claims the lives of one in eight people worldwide (Statistical Fact Sheet: International Cardiovascular Disease Statistics, American Heart Association, 2004).

Even though the condition can be easily diagnosed and successfully treated, nearly 70 per cent of the people who have high blood pressure do not have it under control, says the doctor.
Factors behind hypertension such as obesity are linked to a poor diet and lifestyle choices.

Due to the dominant sedentary lifestyle in the UAE, most people living in the country fall under this category. Although most people know the importance of maintaining good health to control hypertension, such as eating a well-balanced meal with less dietary salt, exercising for 30 minutes each day, managing stress, and quitting smoking, RAHA officials underline that very little has been done.

Dr Nayal encourages adults to have their blood pressure checked regularly and continue to take their medicines even after blood pressure level has stabilised.
“In conjunction with modifying their lifestyle, the patients should seek medical treatment. Even after the blood pressure has come down, they should continue to take the medication to maintain a healthy BP level,” added Dr Nayal. Source

Doctors warn against over-eating during Eid

2007-12-20T18:04:00.000+04:00

Barbecues, delicious meat dishes...extended eating sessions. Eid Al Adha is a time when people tend to relish meat delicacies. However, medical experts caution that residents must watch out for their health and avoid ‘over-eating’.
It’s important to have a balanced and moderate diet and limit consumption of high-fat food during festivities in order to avoid stomach upsets, which at times require medical intervention.

Medical experts have also advised people to make sure that the meat they are eating is well-cooked. They should also drink lots of fluids, mainly water, especially when enjoying outdoor Eid parties during the day time so as to avoid dehydration.
Dr Max Mudrik, deputy chairman of the Emergency Unit at Shaikh Khalifa Medical City, advised people not to consume meat in big quantities.
“We cannot exactly pinpoint which type of food causes indigestion. But what we can pinpoint is that taking food in big quantities, specially fatty food like grilled meat, causes stomach upsets,” he said. “During Eid time, people should consume lots of fluids to avert dehydration,” he noted.
On the steps to follow if a stomach pain occurred, Dr Mudrik said people could take antacid tablets, stop eating and go for a mild exercise, preferably walking.
However, he said, in case patients had a chronic disease or other serious disease, a medical consultation is a must. “For those with any sort of chronic disease or cardiac problem, it’s always better to see a doctor. We are more concerned about old people. They should be more cautious,” said Dr Mudrik.
Dr Raza Shakeer, another emergency doctor, said people should avoid excessive consumption of fatty diets during Eid days.
“It’s not healthy to have meat three times a day. Moreover, meat must be well cooked or grilled,” said Dr Shakeer, while cautioning that in the event of severe and non-subsiding pain, patients must seek medical consultation.

Dangerous elegance: Henna, ahoy!

2007-12-19T09:42:00.000+04:00

With Eid this week, there is a hard-to-meet demand for henna from women and children of different nationalities who want to get artistic decorations that match each one’s tradition and mode of festivity.
Beauty salons all over the country are packed with women and children as young as five years waiting in queues for their turn to get henna patterns applied on their hands and feet as part of the preparations to welcome Eid with an elegant look.
Though some salons have doubled the charges for applying henna, that has not dampened the craving of women for unique artistic henna designs, ignoring the potential health risks since many salons mix henna with dyes and chemical substances to strengthen the dyeing properties. Doctors have cautioned people against applying henna at salons without knowing the ingredients, especially those which might cause skin problems.

Legal experts, meanwhile, say people could sue the salon owner in the event of deception regarding the substances mixed with the henna.
Municipality authorities in Abu Dhabi have already launched a hotline — 993 — to receive complaints about salons regarding lack of hygiene and practices that might negatively affect human health.

Dr Khalid Mohammed Othman, Abu Dhabi-based consultant dermatologist, cautioned: “Mixing chemical substances with henna might result in serious skin diseases, especially if the person already has an allergy or any skin ailment like eczema.”
He said the chemical substances could cause itching and burns on the skin.
“It is advised that henna should be herbal. An allergy test must be carried out by applying a small quantity of henna under the elbow for at least four hours. Allergies and skin diseases must be treated before applying henna,” he said.
“Not experiencing an allergic reaction the first time does not mean that you will have the same luck next time. So women must be very careful while applying mixed henna,” added Dr Othman.

Tariq Nassar, a legal adviser, said beauty salons must inform customers about the real ingredients of the mixture before applying it or face legal action in case the customer developed any health problem because of the use of henna.
“If it is proved that the customer suffered the health problem due to the use of unsafe henna, she has the right to sue the salon owner,” said Nassar.
Through medical and technical investigations will be conducted in such lawsuits.
When contacted, an official source at the municipality said: “Public is welcome to dial 993 to complain about any problems they face while getting services from beauty salons. Our inspectors will carefully probe the complaints to protect people’s health.”

Did you know?

Henna dyes hair, skin and fabric organically, similar to a black tea dye.
Henna is extracted from a plant by drying and grinding leaves and stems. The greenish powder, when mixed with an acidic liquid, makes a temporary red, brown or orange design on a porous surface.
People use henna in ritual skin painting, called mehndi (in the Indian subcontinent), for birth and marriage celebrations. Western cultures have adopted henna to make temporary ‘tattoos’ and organic hair dye.
The henna plant, Lawsonia inermis, grows in hot, arid regions like North Africa, India and Pakistan. For centuries, people have been grinding the foliage of the plant into a powder to dye cloth and skin. The strong pigment, lawsone, actually temporarily stains the skin. Lawsone is a tannin; tannins are also found in wine and tea. They infuse porous surfaces with a darker pigment, but do not chemically alter the surface permanently.
Henna works because lawsone is absorbed into hair and skin. One can mix the powdered henna into a mud, using hot water, lemon juice, vinegar, or other acidic additives. An acidic mixture strengthens the dyeing properties. The henna mud can be applied on to a surface like the palm of the hand, bottom of the feet or anywhere on the body. Leave the mud on for as long as possible, up to 48 hours. When it dries, crumbles and fall off, the skin will have darkened to auburn, orange, red, or brown.
Depending on the fineness of the paste, one can apply henna with a tube, like putting icing on the cake. With a lot of care and workmanship, people can achieve intricate designs full of scrolls, swirls, paisley outlines, and dots. Henna tattoos create temporary bracelets, motifs, emblems, or words.
In traditional mehndi, Muslims and Hindus decorate the skin of those participating in special ceremonies, such as a wedding or circumcision, in places like Indonesia, India and Pakistan.
Dyeing with henna is entirely temporary. Hairdye may last up to six weeks, but skin dye will probably not stay visible for more than a week. This is because the dye has only sunken into the uppermost layer of dead and dying skin. When your skin flakes fall off through natural exfoliation, it will be gradually replaced by fresh skin of your natural colour. Henna hairdye will also slowly fade away, but will not leave any lines or stripes like synthetic dye.

Medical screening for Emirati children is free

2007-12-14T15:06:00.000+04:00

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Takamul have come out with more details of the pilot project to screen newborns and children in government hospitals for blood and genetic disorders.
The screening will be done free of cost for children born to UAE nationals while a nominal fee will be charged from expatriate parents.
The project, which will be launched in Dubai soon and rolled out as a major programme all over the country later, will be implemented by all government hospitals and Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs).

Project to start with newborns

“It is important to start off with newborns because in this way, we can reduce the psychological and financial burden of the disease on both the families and the health providers by at least 7-12 per cent,” said Dr Haider Al Yousaf, Executive Director of Takamul, during a training workshop for medical staff at the Rashid Hospital on Wednesday.

He added that each case would be followed up starting from six months to a year, but could be extended as per the case requirements.

“The project, which is going to be the most comprehensive in the world, will put Dubai in the forefront of international child screening,” said Qadhi Al Murooshid, Director-General of DHA.

Early detection could reduce costs

“A recent study has proposed that early detection could reduce disabilities due to congenital defects in children by 40 per cent,” said Al Murooshid, adding that the system would also help in reducing the treatment costs for the families.

Dr Al Yousuf explained, “We are gathered here to propose a system to effectively screen children for blood and genetic disorders from birth which are not immediately noticeable but are treatable if detected early. If undetected, the results could be devastating.”

The tests to be conducted on newborns to detect visual, developmental and hearing problems as well as diseases.

Cases will be referred to Takamul’s Screening, Early Diagnostic and Intervention Centre (Sedic) for a follow-up at a later stage.”

Sedic provides state-of-the-art comprehensive, family-focused, interdisciplinary assessment and diagnostic services to children with disabilities and birth defects, and who are at risk of developmental delays and their families. The services will be very beneficial to the families whose children have been diagnosed with disease,” said Al Yousaf.

Parents urged to come forward

He also encouraged parents to come forward for treatment of their children.
Initially, 50 personnel from different cadres are being trained including ENT specialists, social workers, dieticians and paediatricians.
Takamul is a Government of Dubai initiative that works for the inclusion and self-determination of people with special needs and their families in a barrier-free society. Source

Warning against herbal medicine

2007-12-14T14:50:00.000+04:00

Health authorities have cautioned the public not to use an unbranded medicine for diabetes being sold in the country as a natural product, the use of which without a doctor’s prescription, could pose health risks.
Speaking to Khaleej Times yesterday, Dr Mohammed Abuelkhair, Head of Drugs and Medical Product at the Health Authority, Abu Dhabi (HAAD), said the Authority had been informed by a UAE national that a diabetes medication claimed to be made of natural herbal mixture was being sold at a shop.

“The man brought the mixture on December 6 to the Authority because he doubted the ingredients. Laboratory analysis showed that the mixture contained ingredients of such diabetes drugs as Metformin and Glibenclamide,” said Dr Abuelkhair.
Metformin is the most popular anti-diabetes drug and Glibenclamide is a medication which is used by patients with maturity onset or non-insulin dependent diabetes. Both medicines are sold at pharmacies as prescription drugs for diabetes.
“The man said he bought the mixture from a honey shop in Dubai and the seller claimed it was natural and made of a combination of herbs,” he said.
Dr Abuelkhair said HAAD will inform the Dubai Municipality authorities to investigate the matter and adopt immediate measures to protect public health. “People in Dubai and other emirates are warned not to buy any herbal products claimed to be 100 per cent natural and a cure for diabetes,” he warned.
Dr Abuelkhair also said HAAD had recently seized a harmful slimming capsule widely sold at malls and nutrition shops in the country.
“We have banned a slimming capsule known as ‘Zein Atat’ sold at malls and nutrition shops across the emirates. The capsule is promoted as herbal while it contains harmful chemical substances that might cause multiple health complications,” said Dr Abuelkhair. Source

What's on Your List for Santa?

2007-12-04T07:14:00.000+04:00

The time of year has come for good girls and boys to break out the pen and paper to ask Santa for what we really want this year. Since Santa brings toys, not six-pack abs, it's a good way to list all the things you want to accomplish on your own. Here are mine:

"Dear Santa,
Sorry to hear that they're making you slim down in the UK, I'll be sure to leave you some water and fruits this year. Moving on . . . This year I have been really, really good. I've practiced my gymnastic about three times every week and I've really been trying to eat healthy, overlooking the weekends, of course. This year I really want to loose 6 kg. I am also hoping you could bring me some willpower to stop at just one slice of cake a week. Finally, what I really want is a workout buddy. I am not sure how you'll stuff him in the bag, but this would make me really happy.
Love, Fit Chron Editor "

Share your letters to Santa for what you want, health and fitness wise, this year for Christmas in the comments section below.

Sweden impressed by UAE’s care for elderly

2007-12-04T06:54:00.000+04:00

The system adopted by the UAE health and social sectors in catering to the elderly people is advanced and effective, according to Swedish Minister of Health and Social Affairs Goran Hagglund.
The Swedish minister was on a three-day official visit to the country, heading a high-level delegation to explore possible areas of cooperation between the two countries in the field of health and social services.

Hagglund held talks with Minister of Health Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qutami and Minister for Social Affairs Mariam Mohammed Khalfan Al Roumi.
In an interview with Khaleej Times, Hagglund stated that his country will contemplate means and ways of benefiting from the UAE policy regarding services provided for old people.
“In the UAE, elderly people are taken care of in a way where sons and daughters are involved. I hope Sweden will benefit from the UAE expertise in this regard in order to provide old people with a social life and home care,” he said.
Hagglund underlined that Sweden’s policy on taking care of elderly people is mainly based on keeping them in a specialised centre where they receive medical care.
The Swedish minister said he was very impressed with the healthcare system in the country and the social development witnessed by the UAE, but noted that the UAE ought to find a more cost-controlled treatment. “The UAE has a quality healthcare system. However, I think it is very important to have cost-controlled treatment where costs can be controlled and, at the same time, quality medical care is secured,” suggested Hagglund. He said the two sides also discussed ways of fighting ailments like diabetes, which is also prevalent in Sweden, as well as best criteria for hospitals management.
“We have discussed the different systems followed by our countries regarding the social security. I hope we could benefit from each other’s experience in this field. I believe there should always be a change in regulations and laws for the betterment of social services.”

Definition: Cortisol

2007-12-03T22:54:00.000+04:00

Cortisol is an important hormone in the body, secreted by the adrenal glands and involved in the following functions and more:
* Proper glucose metabolism
* Regulation of blood pressure
* Insulin release for blood sugar maintanence
* Immune function
* Inflammatory response

Small increases of cortisol have some positive effects in stressful situations:
* A quick burst of energy for survival reasons
* Heightened memory functions
* A burst of increased immunity
* Lower sensitivity to pain
* Helps maintain homeostasis in the body

While cortisol is an important and helpful part of the body’s response to stress, it’s important that the body’s relaxation response to be activated so the body’s functions can return to normal. Higher and more prolonged levels of cortisol in the bloodstream (like those associated with chronic stress) have been shown to have negative effects, such as:
* Impaired cognitive performance
* Suppressed thyroid function
* Blood sugar imbalances such as hyperglycemia
* Decreased bone density
* Decrease in muscle tissue
* Higher blood pressure
* Lowered immunity and inflammatory responses in the body, as well as other health consequences

Vitamin C Fights Stress

2007-12-03T22:43:00.000+04:00

Let's face it, the holiday season is stressful. Couple that with all the runny noses that surround you and it becomes clear – vitamin C is your ally. Aside from helping shorten the duration of a cold, fighting wrinkles, and helping absorb iron, vitamin C is a stress buster. Boosting your system with extra C before stressful events can help bring your blood pressure back to normal more quickly. Plus it can help even out your cortisol levels after a taxing situation.
Cortisol is a brain chemical that is part of our response to stress, and while it is good to have around in the short term, you really don't want it lingering in your system. Hence the importance of Vitamin C since it helps brings cortisol levels back to normal.
Tip: Winter is citrus season, so it easy to get vitamin C from food sources. If citrus isn't your thing, check out this list of citrus alternatives.

Free Testing In Dubai On World Diabetes Day

2007-11-12T15:46:00.000+04:00

November 14th is International World Diabetes Day. To mark the occasion Welcare World Health Systems (WWHS) facilities throughout Dubai are inviting residents of the UAE for free screenings throughout the day. World Diabetes Day is an occasion to raise awareness about diabetes and its associated risk factors.

World Diabetes Day was introduced by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1991, in response to the concern over the escalating incidence of diabetes around the world. Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is the most prevalent chronic disease in the UAE. Recent statistics released by the Ministry of Health confirm that 25% of UAE nationals suffer from it, while the IDF ranks the prevalence of diabetes in the UAE at a staggering 30.7%, which is the second highest rate worldwide.
According to the recent McKinsey Report, the UAE spends on average 1,940 million dollars annually on healthcare. With the region?s population expected to grow to 56.3 million by 2025, diabetes and its related conditions are set to cause an increasing financial burden on the healthcare system.
"Healthcare costs in the UAE are rising due to a number of factors, one being the high incidence of diabetes and it?s related factors, the GCC expenditure on healthcare is set to increase fivefold from today's 11.9 billion to 57.3 billion by 2025," said Dr. Ottmar Schmidt, Director of PR and Marketing, WWHS. "It is estimated that cardiology will create by far the biggest burden on the health system. There needs to be more preventative measures in place to reverse this trend. It is our social responsibility to help stop the spread of diabetes and its related conditions and I urge people to attend the free screenings offered to them on World Diabetes Day," Dr. Schmidt continued.
According to the WHO diabetes is responsible for 75% of deaths among nationals and 31% among non nationals in the UAE, while 90% of amputees in the UAE are diabetic. As rates of the disease increase in the UAE it is important that individuals are aware of the symptoms and get tested. Patients with higher blood glucose levels than normal are said to have pre-diabetes and are at risk of developing the disease within 5 to 10 years. Early identification of the risk factors is essential as it may help in preventing the onset of the disease.
"One of the problems we often encounter is that a large proportion of the population have Diabetes but are unaware and only present themselves when they suffer from its complications," comments Dr. Iyad Ksseiry, Specialist Endocrinologist, Welcare Hospital. "While it cannot be cured, diabetes can be carefully controlled and I hope that people will come forward to get tested in order to prevent future, more serious complications," he added.
Welcare Hospital has a Specialist Diabetes Clinic to help support and educate those diagnosed with the condition. On World Diabetes Day a diabetic nurse educator, as well as a dietician and doctor will be on hand to give free tests and counselling. They will conduct a glucose tolerance test, which measures blood sugar levels and they will also analyse a patient?s basic metabolic factor. This will help identify what level of risk patients are at to develop diabetes and they will advise what can be done to help prevent the onset of the disease. Source

Spotting Specific Learning Difficulties in school failure

2007-11-11T09:05:00.000+04:00

As schools re-opened for a new term, many children and parents alike feel apprehensive. Some of them recall the struggle they go through with homework, tests and just the day-to-day learning. It becomes even more frustrating when the child is obviously bright and has all the necessary tools to succeed. Then why is s/he not coping with schoolwork?

At risk for Learning Disabilities:

Language delay the child starts to speak later than 2 years
Delay in development of milestones
Problems at birth
Very irritable and difficult during infancy and toddlerhood
Positive family history
Recurrent otitis media or ear infections
Early signs of Learning difficulties - preschool
Difficulty with tying shoelaces or buttoning
Delayed speech.
Problems with pronunciation
Problems with rhyming words and learning rhymes
Difficulty with learning shapes, colours and how to write their own name
Difficulty with retelling a story in the right order of events
Poor pencil control or dislike of colouring
Difficulty in picking up the alphabet
Delay in recognising colours and shapes

Symptoms in primary school children:

Problems with reading a single word.
Regularly confuses certain letters when writing, such as 'd' and 'b' or 'm' and 'w'.
Regularly writes words backwards, such as writing 'pit' when the word 'tip' was intended.
Problems with grammar, such as learning prefixes or suffixes.
Tries to avoid reading aloud in class.
Doesn't like reading books.
Reads below their expected level.

Symptoms in high school children:

Poor reading.
Bad spelling, including different misspellings of the same word in one writing assignment.
Difficulties with writing summaries.
Problems with learning a foreign language.
All children with LD dislike going to school and may resist doing homework.
Diagnosis

If you suspect that your child has SLD or Specific Learning Difficulties then first talk to his or her class teacher. Then if necessary seek professional advice. The evaluation may include testing a range of factors including:

Cognitive (thinking) skills
Memory
Vocabulary
Literacy skills
Intellectual ability
Attention control
Language

Dr. Rajeshree Singhania; MD, PhD, MEd, Neurodevelopmental Paediatrician;

Dubai Health Care City; P: 04 4298498; Email: singhaniaclinic@yahoo.com

I need advise

2007-11-09T23:37:00.000+04:00

Dear Friends,

I am a stressed mother. I have a child who is like wild animal! I know I should not say this about my son but he is driving me mad. He is only 8 years old but will argue about anything that I ask him to do. His first reaction to any request is a loud Why and then he will either refuse to do it, argue as to why he should not do it or finally just walk away. The request may be a simple one like go take a bath or do your homework or even come eat your lunch.

Please help with advise............

Singhania Clinic

2007-11-09T23:20:00.000+04:00

Hello Parents,
When it comes to protecting your child nothing is more important. Their health, welfare and happiness are all crucial especially in those developing years.
But what happens when things go wrong? The first signs are not so obvious. He or she may have trouble sleeping; there could be a decline in performance at school; they
may become disruptive, irritable or overactive. There could be the trauma of moving and the associated upheavals.

Dr. Rajeshree Udani Singhania a Pediatrician with a DCH, M.D. (Bombay) Ph.D.(LONDON) in Pediatric Neuro Developmental Medicin from Great Ormond Street, UK and MEd in Autism from Birmingham University,UK, has been practicing in Dubai since 1996 and will help you child.
Call her at 04 429 8498 or email at singhaniaclinic@gmail.com

American Cosmetic Surgery Hospital opened in Dubai

2007-10-29T00:44:00.000+04:00

The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Hospital (AACSH) was opened Sunday, announced Dubai Healthcare City, a member of Dubai's Tatweer.
The launch coincides with the first 'World Congress on Liposuction Surgery and Advances in Cosmetic Surgery in the UAE, scheduled between 29 and 31 October in Dubai.
AACS Hospital, the only international accredited operator in the region, provides wide ranging services incorporating modern techniques in cosmetics. It will also include the AACSH Educational Centre, providing internationally accredited surgical and non-surgical workshops, affiliated to the AACS in the US.
"We are indeed honored to announce the launch of the AACS Hospital a day before the 'World Congress on Liposuction Surgery and Advances in Cosmetic Surgery in the UAE' in Dubai. This is an international event that brings together surgeons from around the world to share their expertise and best practices in cosmetic surgery and we are aiming to host this congress again in the future", Executive Director of the AACS Hospital, Jeehan Abdul Qader MD, said.
"The AACS Hospital with its experienced world class surgeons adds a new dimension to the wide spectrum of DHCC's existing healthcare providers. This is also our first step into cosmetic surgery, advancing our mission of providing holistic care across the full range of healthcare services", said Dr. Muhadditha Al Hashimi, CEO, Dubai Healthcare City. Source

MoH opens registration for licenses

2007-10-29T00:42:00.000+04:00

South Asians outnumbered all others to turn out at the UAE Ministry of Health who started to receive on Sunday applications for licenses for practicing midwifery and nursing in the country.
On the first day of registration, more than 200 applications were submitted to the licensing department, according to Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry Dr. Abdul Ghaffar Abdul Ghafoor.

The registration will continue until the end of this month.
The written examination has been scheduled for November 5th and will be held at the Nursing Institute in Sharjah. Source

Free diagnostic services for one month

2007-10-23T19:04:00.000+04:00

Starting today, diagnostic services to detect breast cancer for expatriates, both men and women, will be provided free of charge at the country’s health institutions for one month, Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qutami, Minister of Health, has announced.
The minister made this announcement at a Press conference held yesterday to mark the launch of the first breast cancer campaign in the UAE. “The focus has now shifted to fighting non-communicable diseases, mainly cancer, after the country has successfully managed to eradicate communicable diseases,” said Qutami. Dr Ahmed Mubarak Al Mazouei, director of HAAD, said the national drive was an important step in early detection of the disease.

Free mammogram
Lifeline Hospital and Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi have come together to raise awareness about breast cancer and help the population at risk (mainly women) fight this disease.
Under the initiative, women will be allowed a free mammogram facility at Lifeline Hospital between October 23 and 29. Besides, Al Wahda mall will support the initiative by putting up pink decorations, and setting up a breast cancer awareness desk on its premises to offer guidance and information to visitors on this disease. Source

Health Minister launches anti-breast cancer drive

2007-10-22T22:29:00.000+04:00

The First National Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign was launched today at the Emirates Palace Hotel by Health Minister Humaid Al Qattami under the the patronage of H.H.Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Supreme Chairperson of Family Development Foundation and Honorary Head of the Higher National Anti-Breast Committee.
The campaign to be held under the title '' Break the Silence - Diagnose it Earlier and Save Your Life' will educate and guide women to understand, learn and have access to information about the importance of early detection as the best method in successfully treating breast cancer.
The Minister paid tribute to Sheikha Fatima for her founding the Committee last year for her care for health of women.

He briefed the gathering about an array of programmes and activities of the Committee.
Dr. Ahmed Al Mazrouie, Chairman of Health Authority - Abu Dhabi - gave a presentation about preparations made to render the campaign a success.
An array of programmes and activities will be lined up at health centres, hospitals, schools, social and cultural clubs and women organizations to ensure delivery of key breast cancer health messages to women in all emirates A healthcare professional will offer advice to local and expatriate women and teach them more about self examination, screening and treatment.
Educational posters and brochures about breast cancer will also be displayed in many public places to encourage women to take notice and be pro-active against Breast Cancer. Source

Arabic sessions on arthritis

2007-10-15T20:01:00.000+04:00

The Emirates Arthritis Foundation (EAF) will organise three awareness sessions in Arabic about arthritis.
The seminars will be held on October 23, October 30 and November 4 between 7pm and 9pm at the Movenpick Hotel, Dubai. The sessions will be conducted by a team of experts, including rheumatologists, nurses, physiotherapists, dietitians and psychiatrists and will discuss different topics including types of arthritis, symptoms, lifestyle management, benefits of exercise, dietary advice, latest treatments, pain management and handling the psychological impact of arthritis.

Dr Cathy Leibman EAF’s Director of Operations said, “The foundation is keen to educate the public about the disease and explain the different kinds and treatments in a way that enables the patient to live a normal life.”
Rania Abu Yaghi, Operations Manager at Dubai Bone and Joint Centre, said, “We have invited the arthritis patients, their friends and relatives to attend these sessions which highlight the importance of dealing with the disease and its related aspects. Source

Zayed Military Hospital performs first-ever kidney transplant surgery

2007-10-01T07:59:00.000+04:00

In a first for a hospital in the capital, doctors at the Abu Dhabi-based Zayed Military Hospital have performed a successful kidney transplant operation.
Making this announcement at a Press conference yesterday, Dr Rashid Mohamad Al Nueimi, director of the medical services at the hospital, said the operation was performed on a 53-year-old Sudanese patient, who had suffered kidney failure some four months ago.

The operation took nearly two hours to complete.
The patient’s wife and cousin had donated their kidneys to the man.
Dr Al Nueimi said the success of this operation was a major milestone for the hospital. Source

Diabetics should fast only after doctor’s advice

2007-09-30T11:06:00.000+04:00

Diabetes patients have been advised to check with their physicians whether it is safe for them to fast and also if any changes need to be made regarding the timing of taking medication and dosages, said Dr K.V. Thariani, physician at Rahat Medical Centre in Abu Dhabi.
All overweight diabetics, except pregnant or nursing mothers whose diabetes is stable with weight levels 20 per cent above the ideal weight, are encouraged to fast.

“However, diabetes patients who fast should avoid too much intake of oily or greasy food to break the fast. They should break the fast with simple carbohydrates like a couple of dates or 120ml of unsweetened juice, followed by medicines immediately. They should drink or eat low-fat yoghurt products and avoid all sweets and sugary food except dates (only 2 to 4),” Thariani suggested.
At Iftar time, diabetes patients are suggested to take one cup of soup without chicken or meat, two meat or chicken simbusak, one cup of low-fat yogurt and one piece of fresh fruit, he stated.
“At Suhour time, they should take 90 grams of meat, chicken or fish boiled or grilled, two cups of rice, macaroni, gereeshi, thareed, Mofallaq, or Haris cooked without fat or oils, salad without fat, one cup of cooked vegetables without fat, half a cup of low-fat yoghurt and one piece of fresh fruit as well. This diet can vary from person to person,” Thariani added.
There are several categories of diabetic patients. In some cases, they are allowed to fast without any danger and in some case they are cautioned to not take risk as it may be harmful.
“It is important for an individual to follow a balanced diet so that indigestion problem is avoided and metabolic parameters are maintained. Sometimes, the fasting may lead to fatigue tiredness, lethargy and dizziness. So to avoid these symptoms one should stick to a balanced diet. Adequate intake of liquids and sleep is equally important,” the doctor suggested.
However, the doctor does not recommend fasting by those who are suffering from Type 1 (Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus) and those who are poorly-controlled Type 1 or Type 2 (non-Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus) as it may lead to problems. Pregnant diabetes patients and elderly patients with any degree of alertness problems should avoid fasting.
“If diabetics are fasting, they should be able take pulse temperature, look for skin infection and notice changes in the sensorium (mental alertness). They should be on the alert for any colic pain, signs of renal colic or hyperventilation, and signs of dehydration,” Thariani advised. Source

30% of women in UAE have osteoporosis

2007-09-05T23:02:00.000+04:00

Around 30 per cent of women in the UAE suffer from the common bone disease osteoporosis, said Dr Shivanand Shetty, an orthopedic surgeon at the New Medical Centre.
The age of onset is around 50-years-old. Osteoporosis is a major risk factor for fracture. Dr Shetty spoke to Gulf News regarding reasons behind developing osteoporosis. Risk factors that enhance osteoporosis include smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of calcium in one's diet and lack of exercise.
However, osteoporosis can be avoided at an earlier stage, said Dr Shetty. Until the age of 30 there is constant turnover of the bone in the skeletal system. Bone formation and resorption takes place at an equal rate.

Diet

Peak bone mass (adequate deposit of calcium in the bone) is reached by the age of 30. To achieve peak bone mass one needs a diet adequate in calcium, vitamin D and good exercise during the early phases of life. Osteoporosis runs in families; having a parent or sibling with osteoporosis puts a person at greater risk.
"I advise patients to drink a lot of milk and consume dairy products as well as green vegetables. One whose diet is not adequate in calcium requires calcium supplements and regular exercise," said Dr Shetty.
One of Dr Shetty's patients, Shahnaz Ihsan, a housewife, aged 56, spoke to us regarding her experience with osteoporosis.
"Exactly three years ago I started to feel immense pain in my back, my bones were cracking and I visited the doctor who prescribed medicine .. and now feel so much better," she said.
Ihsan advised other woman to seek medical help if they start to suffer menopausal symptoms.

Source

Diet Tip: Eat Protein at Every Meal

2007-08-28T23:25:00.000+04:00

If you are trying to change how you eat and looking to lose weight, and one way to keep you on a path of good nutrition and weight loss is to eat protein at every meal.
It is said that protein is more satisfying than carbohydrates or fats, and thus may be the new secret weapon in weight control. Plus, eating enough protein helps preserve muscle mass and encourages fat burning while keeping you feeling full. So be sure to include healthy protein sources, like yogurt, cheese, nuts, beans, or lean meat at meals and snacks.
Do you know how much protein you should be eating daily?
Most women over the age of 19 need 40-60 grams depending on their weight and activity level (check this protein post to find out how much protein you should be getting).
So, how do we get the protein we need? Here's a list of some foods and how much protein is in each. Add up the amount of protein you eat in a day to figure out if you're getting enough, or if you need to add more.

Food Protein in Grams
1 cup oatmeal 6
1 cup cereal (corn flakes) 2
1 cup cereal (Cheerios) 3
1 cup cereal (Kashi Go Lean) 14
1 bagel 9
2 slices whole wheat bread 5
1 cup milk 8
1 cup soy milk 6-10
6 oz yogurt 7
6 oz soy yogurt 6
1 cup lowfat cottage cheese 28
1 oz soft cheese (mozzarella, brie, camembert) 6 per oz
1 oz medium cheese (cheddar, swiss) 7-8 per oz
1 oz hard cheese (parmesan) 10 per oz

Want to see the rest?

Food Protein in Grams
fish 7 per oz
chicken 7 per oz
beef 7 per oz
1 egg 7
1/4 cup peanuts 9
2 tbsp peanut butter 8
1/4 cup almonds 8
1/4 cup walnuts 7.5
1/4 cup cashews 5
1/4 cup sunflower seeds 6
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds 19
1/4 flax seeds 8
1/2 cup brown rice 2.5
1/2 cup quinoa 10
1/2 cup couscous 6
1 cup cooked whole wheat pasta 7
baked potato 4
baked sweet potato 2-4
1 cup cooked squash (butternut) 2
1 cup steamed broccoli 4.65
1 cup asparagus 5.31
1 cup brussel sprouts 5.64
1 cup steamed spinach 6
1 cup green peas 8.24
1 cup mixed vegetables 5
1/2 cup lentils 9
1/2 cup beans (kidney, black, pinto, adzuki) 7-10
1/2 cup split peas 8
1/2 cup tofu 20

Calcium for the over-50s prevents broken bones

2007-08-28T12:32:00.000+04:00

Australian scientists say people over the age of 50 should take supplements of calcium in order to reduce the risk of bone damage should they fall.
The scientists from the University of Western Sydney suggest that daily calcium supplements would prevent one in four fractures in this age group.
The scientists reached their conclusion after a three and a half year study examining the combined results of 17 studies involving more than 50,000 people over 50 who were given calcium supplements.
They discovered that supplements reduced the risk of fractures by 12% but when the proper dose of 1,200mg was taken every day the risk was reduced by 24%.
A connection was also established between the reduced risk and an appropriate dosage of vitamin D.
Subjects ingesting over 800 International Units each day experienced a 16 percent risk reduction and, in comparison, people taking less vitamin D enjoyed only a 13 percent reduction.
Many medical experts maintain that vitamin D helps the stomach absorb calcium, but the study showed that calcium worked just as well with or without it.
Lead author Benjamin Tang says the advice may be optional for those who are fit, healthy and have a very good diet at 50, but those on a poorer diet who are older would gain more benefit.
Dr. Tang says they found that many people are not taking strong enough doses of calcium, or not taking them regularly enough, to reap the full benefits and most of the tablets taken are low dosage.
In older people and particularly in women osteoporosis and low bone density become major health problems, and fractures are a major cause of injury affecting as many as 10 million Americans.
Women suffer a faster loss of bone density after the menopause and osteoporosis, the loss of bone density is thought to cost health services millions each year.
Women have a one in six chance of fracturing a bone after the age of 50 and men a one in 20 chance.
Experts believe people should be able to get all the necessary calcium from a balanced diet and nowadays many cereals breads and margarines are fortified with calcium.
The researchers recommended a minimum daily dose of 1,200 mg in the case of calcium-only supplementation.
The benefit appeared to be more apparent in elderly people over 70 with a low body weight living in institutions.
Dr. Tang says the side effects of taking the correct dose of calcium were minimal with only a small number of people suffering mild stomach upsets.
Dr. Tang says most of the research he surveyed was based on women, who have a far higher chance of developing osteoporosis, and the advice would differ for men.
Experts suggest people with osteoporosis may benefit from a daily intake of 1,000 -1,200mg of calcium but also caution against exceeding the recommended limits of calcium as too much calcium can produce unpleasant side effects such as kidney stones.
They also say calcium supplements and vitamin D should be looked upon only as supplements and not as a replacement for a healthy diet rich in veggies, fruit, and grain products.
The study is published in the Lancet medical journal and was sponsored by the Australian Government. Source

NIVEA to open its new spa and therapy concept in Dubai

2007-08-18T00:37:00.000+04:00

NIVEA, the global skin and beauty care brand, has announced it will open its second 'NIVEA HOUSE' in Dubai.

The first such store which opened in Hamburg in April 2006 has proved to be a fantastic suc-cess, offering not only professional retailing of NIVEA products but also full day-spa services such as massage, beauty therapy and hairstyling. The Hamburg store recently had to extend it's working hours to cope with demand for its services.
Robert Taylor-Hughes, Managing Director for Beiersdorf Middle East, trademark owners of the famous NIVEA brand commented: "We are extremely delighted to be chosen as only the second global destination for this excit-ing concept, this really speaks volumes about how aspirational Dubai and the UAE is viewed as an international destination for consumers seeking quality products and services.

"We are the most recent affiliate company for Beiersdorf, having only inaugurated Beiersdorf Middle East in June 2006, so this demonstrates the faith the company have with us in ensuring the correct quality of execution is implemented for this is mportant project driven by the outstanding growth we have achieved in the past twelve months in rapidly maturing markets."

The massive store with a shop frontage close to 30 metres in length will open in the Dubai Mall beauty zone, part of the upcoming Downtown Burj Dubai project, which also boasts the worlds tallest tower Burj Dubai.

When asked what will differentiate the store from other established spas in the region Taylor-Hughes commented: "Service and quality at a very affordable price. It is our intention to bring service levels that have not yet been seen in this industry, coupled with highly knowledgeable, technical staff and a full range of services."

He added: "Everyone knows NIVEA as a brand they can trust, now they will get the opportunity to experience the brand in the hands of professional beauticians, makeup artists and stylists who can recommend exactly which products they should be using, based on their skin type and hair type to enhance both inner and outer beauty."

The brand store will also cater for men's needs with a separate male grooming area for men who want to relax and look their best.

NIVEA was recently voted as the worlds most trusted cosmetics brand in a survey conducted by Readers Digest amongst 24,000 consumers across 15 European countries. Source

98% of professionals in the ME prefer banning of smoking in workplace

2007-08-12T14:49:00.000+04:00

Pressure is mounting on MiddleEast companies to ban smoking in the workplace, according to the latest survey by GulfTalent.com, the region's leading online recruitment portal.The survey found that an overwhelming 98% of professionals favour some form of smoking restriction in their workplace. Of the total respondents, who included both smokers and non-smokers, 54% preferred a complete ban on smoking inside office premises, while a further 44% believed that the workplace should be largely smoke-free, with smoking only permitted in certain designated areas. Only 2% of professionals surveyed were completely opposed to any form of smoking restriction. Currently around 10% of companies have no smoking restrictions in place, while a large number of companies who do have official smoking bans fail to enforce them fully - with many staff, including some senior managers, reportedly flouting the rules.According to GulfTalent.com, many human resource departments across the region have recently introduced smoking restrictions in their workplaces.Those with restrictions already in place are looking at ways to improve compliance by staff. Some HR managers interviewed favoured stronger anti-smoking legislation by their respective governments to assist them with internal enforcement of the policy within their organisations.GulfTalent.com's survey found that overall, 33% or one-third of Middle East professionals smoke. This varies significantly by country, with Egypt and Jordan topping the list at 38%, while Oman is the lowest, with only 20% of employees smoking.

Prevalence of smoking among professionals by country:

Egypt 38% Jordan 38% Saudi Arabia 36% Lebanon 36% UAE 32% Qatar 32% Bahrain 29% Kuwait 28% Oman 20% Source: GulfTalent.com On a nationality level, smoking is most prevalent among Arab professionals at 36%, followed by Western professionals at 28% and Asian professionals at 27%.In terms of gender, smoking is far more prevalent among men than women, with 36% of male professionals smoking compared to 18% of their female counterparts.On a corporate level, 55% of companies currently have a complete ban on indoor smoking, while 36% permit smoking in designated areas only. The penetration of smoking bans varies greatly across the region. Oman leads the anti-smoking drive, with 65% of companies having a complete smoking ban. Kuwait is the most smoker-friendly country with only 42% of firms banning smoking in the workplace. Source

McDonalds to give fast food addicts health kick

2007-08-09T21:26:00.000+04:00

Dubai’s fast food nation is about to embark on a new health kick, courtesy of burger barons McDonalds. In a bid to help UAE combat diabetes and obesity, and revamp its menu while it’s at it, their 48 restaurants will be sourcing meat from local suppliers and adding more healthy choices for children.

Rafic Fakih, managing director of McDonalds UAE, said: “Misconceptions are often due to the unknown and we are keen to embark on further social and environmental initiatives, such as offering only water and juices with the Happy Meal, our plans to have more salads and chicken items, and introduce more healthy choices for kids.”And in a nod to their UK counterparts - who provide flyers on customers’ trays showing information on the farmers supplying its produce - the UAE is also going to concentrate on using local produce.In the Middle East, obesity is rising at alarming rates and in the UAE alone over 25 percent of the population suffers from diabetes - something many medical practitioners attribute to an unhealthy diet and not enough exercise. Source

Medical official denies kidney was removed

2007-08-05T19:28:00.000+04:00

The Shaikh Khalifa Medical City yesterday denied a mother's claim that her child's kidney was removed.
Dr Kenneth Ouriel, CEO of the Shaikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), told Gulf News he is sure after studying the pathology report that the kidney was not removed. "I am 99 per cent sure that kidney was not removed. Only a tumour was removed in the surgery."
Gulf News reported on Wednesday that A. Abdullah Al Ameri, an Emirati mother, said she will sue SKMC for removing her daughter Noora's kidney without her consent.
Noora's mother said her daughter underwent a surgery to remove a tumour above her kidney, when she was 24 days old.

Dr Ouriel earlier told Gulf News he felt the vessels may have been damaged during the surgery and the blood supply to the kidney was interrupted.
As a result the kidney started to shrink. He told Gulf News yesterday the child's kidney may have shrunk. "A 24-day-old baby's kidney is too small and can shrink. You cannot find it by a C.T. scan.
"I consulted a paediatric surgeon and he also confirmed that the kidney can shrink. It has happened in other cases also. I am confident that the kidney was not removed during the surgery."
He ruled out any conspiracy or foul play involving the entire medical team who conducted the surgery.
But Noora's mother does not accept the explanation.
"I have consulted doctors in the UAE, Bahrain and India and all of them told me that although kidney may shrink it will not totally disappear.
"The doctors made it clear that a kidney will never shrink to a stage where it disappears in just two and half months. The doctors said that the kidney can be seen as a dry seed in a C.T. scan even if it shrinks.
"I came to know about the missing kidney when a C.T. scan was done after two-and-a-half months of the surgery. The radiologist asked me whether child's left kidney was removed during the surgery."
A senior official of the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi said the issue is being discussed at the highest level. "We will soon come out with a comment," said the official. Source

Testing herbal drugs for our health

2007-07-06T20:01:00.000+04:00

There was a herbal medicine in the market recently that manufacturers claimed was a sure cure for diabetes," said Dr Mazen Ali Naji, General Manager of the Zayed Complex for Herbal Research and Traditional Medicine.
"It quickly became a best-seller and then a government department sent us a sample to test," he said.
The tests showed that the "herbal medicine" contained toxic chemicals which would have adversely affected the liver of patients and the product was banned, he said.
The Zayed Complex for Herbal Research and Traditional Medicine recently sent out a warning when a man died after drinking a concoction made from the leaves of a plant. It has compiled a list of poisonous plants in the UAE and other countries.
Natural resources

The complex was established in 1996 on the orders of Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who felt there was a need for an institution that can utilise the country's natural resources and gather knowledge about traditional systems of medicine.
Shaikh Zayed's dream project recently achieved international recognition. The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the complex as its collaborative centre for traditional medicine in May this year. "We have been providing information for WHO booklets for the past six years," said Dr Naji.
The complex has published more than 130 articles and abstracts in reputed conference papers, he said.
Dr Naji said research into new medicines for chronic diseases is the most important activity at the complex. "We recently completed tests on new medicines for diabetes, hypertension, kidney stones and gastric ulcers," he said.
But he said the lack of volunteers for clinical trials is a major hurdle in transforming the successful research into medicinal products, says the director. "We depend on animals [such as rats] for the clinical trials," he said.
But recently, its collaboration with WHO has opened the door for cooperation with its centre in Italy for clinical trials on humans.
The Department of Ethnobotany at the Zayed Complex has compiled information after interviewing local healers and herbalists and after detailed studies of 200 plants that have been found in the country.
The information can be found in its Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants of the UAE, Volume 1.
It has developed a herbarium to preserve identified plant specimens for future reference work.
About 4,000 plant specimens have been collected from all emirates, which have been identified, preserved and documented in a database.
The director said the development of a database of all medicinal plants in the UAE, a herbal encyclopaedia, a botanical garden of indigenous medicinal plants and the development of bio-pesticides are in the future plans of the complex.
Over 100,000 patients have visited its traditional medicine clinics. The clinics also treat patients suffering from hypertension, acidity, cough and bronchitis, irritable bowel syndrome and kidney stones.
"Besides contributions to research, we train students of the UAE University and Higher Colleges of Technology every year," said Dr Naji.
The public can call 02-5824000 from 8am to 4pm daily for information regarding a particular item.
Helpline: 02-5824000

Source

Saving your skin

2007-06-29T15:15:00.000+04:00

With temperatures in the summer pushing 50°C, you'd think most people would prefer to be in the comfort of air-conditioning. But doctors in Dubai say that more and more of us are spending our days sunbathing - at all times of the year - and that the long-term effects of such a lifestyle are a huge worry. ‘It is a fact that there is an increase in skin cancer cases in Dubai - especially among expatriates from outside of this region,' says Dr Ashraf Reda, a Dubai Department of Health and Medical Services-registered skin cancer expert who has worked in Saudi Arabia, the US, Bahrain and Egypt. A principle factor is that expatriates are not just sunbathing in the cooler months - they are doing so all-year round as they get more comfortable with the temperatures. The amount of time they are exposing their skin to UV [ultraviolet] rays from the sun is lengthy - and it is this exposure that is causing skin cancers to develop.

Some people are spending all day in the sun or cooling off in a swimming pool or in the shade means they are not harming their skin. But the damage is not done by the temperature - it is UV rays penetrating the skin.

Dr Reda also believes myths regarding the use of sunscreen need to be addressed. ‘The absolute minimum factor you need to use is 25. Factor 15 is not protective enough,' he explains. ‘Anything less than 25 will not offer much protection. A total sunblock is best but if people want to use a factor then they need to keep applying all day - even if the bottle suggests just one application is necessary. Applying sunscreen should be taken seriously, as it can mean the difference between staying healthy and not.'

There are basically two types of skin cancer - melanoma and non-melanoma. Melanoma is almost always dark coloured and often grows relatively quickly. It can also occur when moles start changing shape or colour, or when they start to feel itchy and bleed. Non-melanoma poses less of a health risk and mostly comes in the form of a small, painless lump under the skin with a pink or light brown colour. Both can be cured but need to be detected early.

In many hot countries, such as Australia and America, health authorities have invested heavily in public awareness campaigns to reduce the amount of skin cancer cases. In the UAE these types of campaigns have been launched but have been low-key. ‘Having a tan is not a sign someone is healthy - it is a sign they are unhealthy,' says Dr Reda. ‘It is the fashion these days to have a tan, but the reality is that this fashion can put your life at risk.' Source

UAE second largest consumer of bottled water

2007-06-14T14:00:00.000+04:00

The UAE is the world's second largest consumer of drinking bottled water in 2006, according to a National Geographic report.

The report put Italy on the lead with 203 litres per person, followed by the UAE at 197 litres, and Mexico (191 litres) while the USA ranked tenth with 104 litres. to the report, the world demand for bottled water surged from 28 billion gallons in 2000 to 47 million in 2006. The report lamented a lack of public awareness to the importance of recycling bins. "U.S, drinkers toss 60 million plastic water bottles a day," it said. Source

International Men's Health Week: June 11-17, 2007

2007-06-12T21:25:00.000+04:00

Did you know that men are likely to die, on average, nearly six years earlier than women -- and they have higher mortality rates for many of the leading causes of death in America, including heart disease, accidents, suicide, chronic liver disease, and cancer?
This is why June 11th marks the start of the International Men's Health Week to honor the importance of men's health and wellness. As women, the idea around men's health can sometimes seem foreign but it is important to be in the know when it comes to the health of any man in your life.
A book I highly recommend around this subject is From Boys to Men: A Woman's Guide to the Health of Husbands, Partners, Sons, Fathers, and Brothers ($16.00) by M.D. Emily Senay and Rob Waters. As the women in men's lives -- mothers, wives, girlfriends, sisters, and daughters -- we are traditionally in charge of managing their health concerns. From Boys to Men is a fabulous resource designed to arm women with much-needed information about men's health issues and to help them educate their male loved ones on how to take care of themselves. Filled with expert medical advice, personal anecdotes, and a healthy dose of humor, From Boys to Men should resonate with you if you have a man in your life (dad, brother, husband, son, etc). I can honestly say this book is my bible to men's health, especially since I primarily grew up around women. Buy it from SimonSays.com. Source

Doctors prescribe precautions as we are expecting the cyclone Gonu

2007-06-07T08:56:00.000+04:00

The weather is quite windy in the country due to the cyclone Gonu which is causing sandstorms. People, especially those with chronic lung conditions or those prone to allergies, need to take extra care. Every one can be affected of the foreign particles entering the human system.

For those who are allergic, particles such as pollen may increase the frequency of allergic symptoms.

Asthmatic people and those allergic should try and remain indoors if possible. If you have to venture out, protect yourselves by using a towel to cover their faces - the use of a mask could be helpful.

Other discomforts you may experience are sneezing, wheezing, nasal congestion and coughing may indicate the increase in respiratory allergies. It may also be indicated by itchy eyes, mouth and throat.

The best way is to close all the windows, whether it’s the house or car, and switch on the air-conditioning.

New rules for transportation of medicines

2007-06-02T09:48:00.000+04:00

With the summer heat increasing day by day, new rules for transportation of essential drugs will be enforced from mid-June, according to an official source at the Health Authority, Abu Dhabi (HAAD).
“Some regulations regarding transportation of medicines will be ready by June 15 for implementation in order to guarantee efficacy of imported pharmaceutical products,” revealed Dr Mohammed Abu Elkhair, Director of the Drug Department at HA-AD.
According to him, a comprehensive training course, titled ‘Cold Supply Chain’, will be conducted in order to educate people engaged in handling of medicines, including drug distributors.
“We will also focus on the public as the training programme will educate them how to safely store medicines during summer when temperature and humidity are high,” he said.
Dr. Elkhair told Khaleej Times that transporting medicines in temperatures other than the prescribed limit could lead to inefficacy of the drugs.
“Throughout the transport chain, from the exporter to customs authorities to clearing agents to distributors, stores to pharmacies up to the consumer, a certain temperature must be maintained to preserve the quality of the medicines.”
He said exposure to heat could result in change in colour and taste of the medicine, reduction of potency and efficacy and precipitation (in solutions and suspensions where chemicals are settled at the bottom of the bottle).
“The quality of medicine could be greatly affected and the medication would not yield desired results if it is transported in improper temperatures,” said Dr Elkhair.
According to him, “Medicines should not be kept in the car if the temperature is above 45 degrees and if the person has to travel a long distance, specially if the AC is not working. People are also advised not to leave drugs in the bathroom where humidity is relatively high.” Source

Marrying close relatives not necessarily risky- Doctors

2007-06-02T08:44:00.000+04:00

Marrying close relatives within the limits of religious sanctions may not necessarily pose health risks for offspring, according to 130 doctors who attended here a workshop on 'pre-marital health check'. The workshop jointly organized by Ministry of Health and Dubai Department of Health and Medical Services targeted doctors from maternity and paediatric hospitals and preventive medicine in an effort to familiarize them with the 'pre-marital health check' programme being implemented by Ministry of Health as part of its strategy to bring about healthy families. Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health and Primary Health-care Dr. Maryam Matar said that the Ministry is moving ahead with a clear vision and plan in this regard. "We give emphasize to the need for enhancing professional capability of doctors in diagnosis as it can create good results in pre-marital health checks for prospective brides and grooms and avoid the chances contagious diseases.", she said. The pre-marital health checks can identify the chances of occurring genetically transmitted diseases like Talassimia which is found in the region and mainly attributed to marriages between close relatives. The workshop stressed that marriage between close relatives is not necessarily a reason for genetically transmitted diseases the chances of which can be determined prior to marriage through diagnostic techniques.The doctors also underlined the importance of prospective brides consuming folic acid as a way to minimize the chances of several diseases affecting nervous system. It is better to avoid the chances of giving birth to malformed babies through preventive measures, the workshop concluded. Source

Shisha is 100 times worse than cigarettes

2007-05-30T22:44:00.000+04:00

Smoking tobacco using the traditional hookah waterpipe has been part of the fabric of life in the Middle East for centuries. It's documented evolution stretches back to 16th century India where one historian recorded that the waterpipe was invented by a physician during the reign of Emperor Akbar as a less harmful method of tobacco use. The physician, Hakim Abul Fath, suggested that "tobacco smoke should be first passed through a small receptacle of water so that it would be rendered harmless."

So began a myth that shisha smoking is far less dangerous to health than cigarette and pipe smoking. This week, the World Health Organisation has quashed that myth, suggesting that smoking a hookah is more dangerous than smoking cigarettes. It also said that more research is needed into the link between the use of the waterpipe and several fatal illnesses. An advisory note from the WHO says that smoking a hookah may expose the smoker to more smoke over a longer period of time than occurs when smoking cigarettes. Because smoking a hookah may take up to 80 minutes, the report suggests that the smoker is subjecting himself to as much smoke as somebody dragging on 100 cigarettes. And the water does not strip out all toxic substances. Some of the nicotine is absorbed, but this leads to people smoking for longer in order to experience the effects of the drug, and therefore inhaling more smoke containing carbon monoxide, heavy metals and other toxic compounds, which leads to heart and respiratory problems. Source

Discovery of breast cancer genes will identify sufferers

2007-05-29T12:15:00.000+04:00

Scientists have identified a new genetic basis for breast cancer in a discovery that promises to radically change the way men and women can be screened for the many cancers that can be triggered by faulty genes.
The researchers have discovered mutations in the DNA of four genes that they believe play a small yet significant role in triggering breast cancer in women.
The discovery could lead to new methods of targeting younger women at higher-than-average risk of breast cancer so that they could be screened with mammography before they reach 50 - the age when routine breast screening now begins.
Unlike other genetic variations associated with familial breast cancer, the mutations in these four new genes are relatively common in the population and appear to form part of a bigger community of genes that play a role in breast-cancer predisposition.
However, the wider significance of the genetic discovery is that it brings the day closer when anyone's genome - the entire DNA blueprint - can be screened for the many hundreds of genes that are believed to increase susceptibility to a wide range of cancers. Continue to the full story from source.

Breast Cancer is on the Rise Across Middle East

2007-05-27T16:45:00.000+04:00

The incidence of breast cancer in women is increasing rapidly across the region, but those same patients are living longer lives, agree Middle East-based doctors who met in Paris at the 2nd Middle East and Africa Oncology Summit.The good news though, say doctors from Abu Dhabi's Tawam Hospital, is that breast cancer cases are being caught much earlier, a critical factor in successful treatment of the chronic disease.Prevention, early diagnosis, and proper treatment are the only ways to bring down breast cancer statistics in the UAE. But for post-menopausal women, not all current treatments are safe and effective.For many years, adjuvant Tamoxifen has been the 'gold standard' for endocrine therapy in early breast cancer. In recent trials, however, third generation aromatase inhibitors, such as Letrozole, have been shown to be more effective than Tamoxifen in advanced disease, neoadjuvant therapy, and adjuvant therapy."Endocrine therapy, such as Letrozole, remains a very powerful approach to treating breast cancer in post-menopausal women, and with very low levels of toxicity," said Dr. Ian Smith, Professor of Cancer Medicine at the Royal Marsden Hospital and Institute of Cancer Research in London, who spoke with regional doctors at the Paris summit. Source

It's Summer - Act Like a Kid

2007-05-24T22:23:00.000+04:00

Gabby Reece writes a blog on yahoo that is informative and fun, but above all very true. She recently talked about how we adults should take tips from our kids this summer:

1. Play. Kids run and jump around and don't' call it "working out;" they call it playing. So, if you hate the gym and the feeling of "I have to work out," then find some activity that involves moving that you have fun at. Go outside and play, but be home for dinner.
2. Eat when you're hungry and only until you are full. Children don't dream and obsess about food (except candy). They sometimes even forget to eat. The key lesson to learn from young children is once they are full, they stop eating. Plenty of times you will see them leave really yummy stuff on their plate because they are full. We really overeat as a culture. If this is too difficult, then just put less on your plate.
3. Sleep. They go until they drop. Turn off the computer and TV and get some rest. That's why the little buggers are so happy and have so much energy - because they recover.
There's more tips from Gabby, so
4. Speak your mind. That's right how many times do you think you're going to crawl under the table because your kid says something overly honest? We pound it into our kids to "tell the truth," but yet we go around stuffing our own feelings. This is a form of not telling the truth. I think we would all feel better and relieved if we just got some of that stuff off of our chest. Doesn't mean you have to be malicious just honest.
5. Use your manners. This is another foundational piece we preach to children, but yet we stop being thankful. Look around and see how fortunate you are. Say thank you for what you do have and let's all stop obsessing about what we don't have or we think we want. Use that energy to put into yourself something more productive.
6. Drink alcohol in moderation. Since they are underage, they don't drink, but I think it's fine for you to have a glass of wine or a beer now and again. I would watch the alcohol consumption because it is hard on your organs, makes you reach for a lot more food than you would normally, and is just generally disruptive. I met a guy who I hadn't seen in about seven months and he lost 60 lbs. You know what he said: "I stopped drinking."
7. Laugh. You hear how often they giggle and laugh? Sometimes I catch myself and I feel so uptight and borderline grumpy. Have a laugh and notice all the fun stuff around. Joy is good for the soul and the gut.
8. Be in the moment. Kids have the luxury of being present since we worry about all of it for them. However, there is something to be said for being involved with whatever you are doing. Don't sit at lunch with one friend texting another. Hang up the cell and be present. Source

Ministry to issue diabetes drug alert

2007-05-23T01:27:00.000+04:00

A popular diabetes drug found to increase heart attack and death risks has prompted the health ministry to issue an alert to all hospitals, clinics and pharmacies in the UAE.
Rosiglitazone, sold by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) as Avandia and Andavamet, raises the risk of heart attacks by 43 per cent and cardiac arrest by 64 per cent, according to a scientific analysis of 42 studies done on almost 28,000 people.
The analysis was published by the New England Journal of Medicine online. The study also found more heart-related deaths associated with the drug, approved in 1999 to treat Type II diabetes.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety alert on Monday, warning patients to consult their doctors, but stopped short of asking GSK to withdraw the drug.

According to GSK, Avandia and Andavamet are two of the company's best-selling drugs in the UAE.
Humaid Al Shamsi, assistant undersecretary of the drug control department at the ministry, told Gulf News that they would follow the FDA example and issue a circular to all relevant parties, informing them of the latest developments.
"We are dealing with the medicine, so we will make the circular to all hospitals and primary healthcare centres [latest] by Thursday," he said, adding that pharmacists were included.
He said his office would also work with the ministry's curative medicine department on alternative diabetes management. Among other things, the circular will advise doctors to discuss the drug's safety with patients currently on the drug.
Dr Maha Taysir Barakat, medical and research director at the London Imperial College Diabetes Centre in Abu Dhabi said that despite the findings, patients should not stop using the drug without medical supervision.
"All patients on Avandia should go and see their doctors, particularly the elderly. If they stop suddenly, it may be even more dangerous because their blood sugar will go up," she said.
The UK company issued a statement on its website, refuting safety concerns. It called the statistical analysis "limited" and said that a separate study on more than 33,000 patients showed no difference in heart risks among patients taking Avandia versus other anti-diabetic medicines. Source

Study: Tomatoes no defense against prostate cancer

2007-05-17T12:47:00.000+04:00

Heinz might no longer be able to claim its ketchup can prevent prostate cancer.
The FDA-approved and popularly held notion that antioxidants in tomatoes can prevent prostate cancer appears to be false, according to a large study done by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and National Cancer Institute.
"It was an hypothesis based on observational studies and the fact that cancer can be caused by oxidative damage to DNA," said Ulrike Peters, a Fred Hutchinson scientist and lead author on the report published in the current journal of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.
Natural dietary compounds known as carotenoids, especially the antioxidant lycopene, have been proposed as cancer-fighters because of their ability to protect against the kind of chemical and genetic "oxidative" damage in cells that can lead to cancer.
Tomatoes are especially high in lycopenes and some earlier studies, including one done in 2002 by Harvard, found epidemiological evidence that men who ingested large amounts of tomato products had lower risks of prostate cancer.
This, along with other studies suggesting the protective benefit, prompted the Food and Drug Administration in 2005 to allow the world's largest maker of tomato-based products, H.J. Heinz Co., to advertise that: "The risk of prostate cancer may be reduced by eating just 1/2 to 1 cup of tomatoes -- such as a single serving of Classico{+®} pasta sauce -- per week."
The FDA now allows makers of tomato-based products to claim their foodstuffs may reduce the risk of gastric, ovarian and pancreatic cancers as well. Continue to the full story from source.

The Top 5 food recommendations:

2007-05-16T22:33:00.000+04:00

This is the list of the 5 superfoods all women should include in their diet & surely most of you already do:

Cranberries - These help fight off nasty Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). About 10 oz of juice a day (the unsweetened kind) is all you need to kick that infection out the door.
Not only that, but cranberries are high in antioxidants, so they can help fend off colds, stomach bugs, and certain types of cancer. Drinking cranberry juice can also prevent plaque from forming on your teeth. You can add unsweetened cranberry juice to smoothies or dried cranberries to salads and baked goods.
Walnuts - These are rich in Omega-3s, which help increase the good cholesterol (HDL) levels in your body. These are the "healthy" fats.
They may even help with depression and reduce your risk of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Top your salad with 1/4 cup or try them in pesto. I like to add them to my oatmeal.
Beans - These little legumes are great sources of protein, and they may also prevent heart disease. Rich in two heart-friendly phytochemicals, beans are packed with magnesium, potassium, folate, and fiber.

Fish - Fish are the best sources of Omega-3s because they are high in two particular fatty acids that are crucial to good health, DHA (docosohexanoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). These two fatty acids are important in preventing heart disease and cancer.
Everyone can safely eat up to 2 meals (total of 12 oz) of fish a week.
Tomatoes - These gems are loaded with the antioxidant lycopene. Women with lycopene-rich diets can have as much as a 50% lower risk of developing breast cancer. This miracle antioxidant can also lower your blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels (LDL), and may even reduce your risk of getting macular degeneration (problem with your eyes) and a host of cancers.
Raw tomatoes aren't your only option. Cooked tomato products like tomato sauce count too. 1 cup on your pasta will give you 32 mg of lycopene.

Minister approves bye-law on medicine-related adverts

2007-05-13T22:14:00.000+04:00

Minister of Health, Humaid bin Mohammed Al Qattami, has approved the decree dealing with the bye-law on medicine-related advertisement which was approved by the cabinet on February 20.The decree, which bans any medicine-related advertisement nationwide either through the print or electronic media without prior approval from the ministry, seeks to impose the ministry's stiff control over such adverts to ensure they are neither misleading nor reflecting negatively on public health.The ministry will collect license fee for issuing or renewing such permit or correcting the advertisement content which must not contravene the laws of the country, Islamic values or the tradition and culture of the UAE society. Source

From The Peninsula - Qatar's Leading English Daily

2007-05-10T22:53:00.000+04:00

NHA alert against Phyto Shape

The National Health Authority (NHA) has issued a warning to the public not to use the herbal drug Phyto Shape, produced by Etumax Corporation of Malaysia.
Etumax, set up in 2000, promises: "Our range of products is 100 per cent natural and is guaranteed to have no side effects whatsoever.” However, the NHA has issued its latest directive as Phyto Shape contains a chemical ingredient called sibutramine which is dangerous to health. Worse, sibutramine is not openly mentioned by Etumax as an ingredient of Phyto Shape.
Phyto Shape had gained increasing popularity in the region as it helped in weight loss.
An NHA official stated that all drugs containing sibutramine are not allowed into the country unless with a prescription due to the chemical's "grave side effects" . Phyto Shape, the official observed, is also not registered in Qatar but is smuggled into the country from other states.
Phyto Shape was yanked off the UAE market late last month after the Pharmaceutical Department of the country's Ministry of Health declared it was not a herbal supplement as claimed. In fact, it contained sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate.
Sibutarmine can cause increased blood pressure, allergic reactions which could lead to breathing difficulties, closure of the throat, and a swollen tongue. It can also lead to easy bleeding, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeats, severe headaches, blurred vision and seizures. Source

Wikipedia about side effects of Sibutramine or Reductil; Phyto Shape

2007-05-07T23:21:00.000+04:00

Side effects
Frequently encountered side effects are: dry mouth, paradoxically increased appetite, nausea, strange taste in the mouth, anorgasmia and delayed ejaculation, upset stomach, constipation, trouble sleeping, dizziness, drowsiness, menstrual cramps/pain, headache, flushing, or joint/muscle pain.
Sibutramine can substantially increase blood pressure and pulse in some patients. Therefore all patients treated with sibutramine should have regular monitoring of blood pressure and pulse.
The following side effects are infrequent but serious and require immediate medical attention: cardiac arrhythmias, paresthesia, mental/mood changes (e.g., excitement, restlessness, confusion, depression, rare thoughts of suicide).
Symptoms that require urgent medical attention are seizures, problems urinating, abnormal bruising or bleeding, melena, hematemesis, jaundice, fever and rigors, chest pain, hemiplegia, abnormal vision, dyspnea and edema.
Currently, no case of pulmonary hypertension has been noted, although related compounds (such as Fen-Phen) have shown this rare but clinically significant problem.

Health insurance premiums could cost Dubai employers over Dh1.5b

2007-05-07T09:46:00.000+04:00

The introduction of a compulsory health insurance scheme in Dubai for expatriates and their dependents could conservatively cost employers up to Dh1.5 billion in premiums annually. However, across the UAE, this figure could be as much as Dh4 billion, according to an international law firm Clyde & Co.
Abu Dhabi introduced a compulsory health insurance scheme in January and Dubai is expected to introduce a similar scheme in the near future. The move is generally seen as positive for expatriate employees and their dependents as well as providing many opportunities for the insurance industry.
Wayne Jones, a partner in Clyde & Co in the UAE and adviser on the development of the Abu Dhabi compulsory health insurance law said: "From a cost perspective, the responsibility appears to rest squarely on the shoulders of the employers — whether it is a big international firm or employers of domestic helpers. The scheme will provide huge boosts for the health insurance industry, which is a key and growing part of the UAE."
When exactly the scheme will be introduced in Dubai is uncertain. However, most sources say the legislation is in final stages and awaiting ratification. Some say the legislation will be announced in July, to come into effect by January 2007. Others suggest an announcement will not be made until September. The new system means that only UAE nationals will be covered by the old health card system.
Already companies are scrambling to take out health insurance policies. However, the marketing manager of Joie de Vivre International Insurance Brokerage,
Wahiduzzaman, said: "We are already busy. Employers are already taking out insurance. Large local companies tend to look at local insurers and the rates while multinational companies look at international plans and the benefits."
He also said that "a few companies are complaining" about the cost of insurance, especially given the cost of living in Dubai.
Jones has also cautioned that if three different schemes are introduced — in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the Northern Emirates — with different requirements for the industry, there is a risk that this will lead to confusion and additional demands being placed on the medical insurance market.
"What the industry does not need at this stage in its development is a multiplicity of systems each having a range of different requirements for insurers, employers and policyholders which will confuse the market, potentially adding additional cost burdens onto the providers and, therefore, ultimately to employers," he said.A federal mandatory insurance scheme is being drafted to bring Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the Northern Emirates under the one scheme. Initially, only expatriates will be covered but when it becomes effective for nationals, the government is expected to cover the cost of their premiums. In Dubai, there is also talk that the government will create its own health insurance company. Source